Re: Hydraulic Brakes

Posted by Bob Carabbio on March 02, 1998 at 23:40:28

In Reply to: Hydraulic Brakes
posted by Hugh Smith on March 02, 1998 at 13:51:41

Seems like there a brisk business in changing brakes.Half of the Model "A" community (myself included) is converting to Hydraulics, and the other half is converting back to original.
Assuming that you have nothing of the mechanical system but the pedal, the serious cost item will be the drums.
Backing plates, linkages, actuating components, and the like are a dime a dozen in mediocre but restorable shape at swap meets. Good drums are hard to find (and were never that good to begin with). I've got about 75% of a mechanical system myself that I'm not planning on using.
Plasmeter drums less hubs are $90+ bucks each so there's about $400 just for starters if you go that way. Add another $75-$100 for core parts and around $100-200 for replacement stuff, and you could spend $750 easy. If you hire sombody to do the work it could really get expensive.
OR
you could stumble into a complete setup for $100 with useable drums from somebody that's going the other way.Go Figure.
I ran into a guy at the Pate Swap meet in '96 with a Full set of hydraulics including drums, hubs, emergency brake stuff, plumbing and master cylinder for $70. It was already sold, though, so I wound up with a set of fronts complete and rear backing plates for about $80.
I ran into a guy at the Decatur, TX swap meet last week that was selling 4 late '31 shocks WITH ARMS!! in GOOD condition - (not rusty, tight shaft bushings) - $75 for the set.I'm still kicking myself that I didn't bring more cash-
Bob Carabbio

Follow Ups:
Re: Hydraulic Brakes Hugh Smith March 03, 1998 at 09:29:53(0)

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