Brakes Went Out

[Chris Codd]

My '64 Cadillac DeVille had been sitting for awhile while I was travelling this summer and when I came home it had some issues starting. After replacing the plugs and the ignition coil, it was running better than it had in a long time but the brakes were sticking. I noticed the brake pedal was traveling a little farther than usual when slowing down. Soon after I noticed a hissing noise coming from around the brake pedal. Then I lost the brakes pretty much completely. I couldn't find any leaks from the brake lines or the master cylinder when I took a look around. Is my master cylinder the culprit, or does anybody have any ideas on what to do next? Is it possible I cracked the brake line removing the plugs?

[Jason Edge]

Eastwood is good paint.  I have had excellent results with their paints.

[Chris Codd]

Getting antsy waiting on my brake booster to be rebuilt, so I'm replacing the power steering pump now and repainting the master cylinder with some Eastwood Brake Gray paint. The paint supposed to be resistant to brake fluid, but only time will tell. It's just gone on sale (of course right after I bought a can), so grab some while you can get it. 

[Chris Codd]

Jason, I can still see the old brake parts on most of the websites, but they're all out of stock. It's a real bummer. Went ahead and shipped my brake booster off to Power Brake Booster Exchange. They gave me the best quote I could find at $155.00 plus shipping. They had good reviews from other forums and their work looks top notch. I'll let you all know how it works out so anybody needing future brake booster rebuilds and wanting to keep their original parts can take their work into consideration. 

[Jason Edge]

Hopefully it is just a busted check valve. The availability seems cyclical as Delco's are available then Bendix, and back and forth but with diminishing windows of availability. It seems they wait until they have a batch for rebuilt then become available for a short duration. The old stock to rebuild is of course becoming smaller and smaller.  I remember when replaced my brake booster/mc some years back you go on the AutoZone site and they had a plenty of rebuilt original Delco Morraines. I remember buying maybe 3 or 4, installing one and selling the others. It is one of those items where I could have bought 50 and demand would have eventually exceeded supply.  We will have to keep our eye on what is available. I do have a good stock of cores for rebuild if anyone finds a source or whats to take on rebuilding these. 

[Chris Codd]

Just a little update on this. It seems that nobody is selling the Delco brake booster/master cylinder anymore. I went ahead and bought the Bendix master cylinder since that was the only one I could find. Could not find a Bendix booster. I bench bled the master cylinder and installed it and the brakes are still going to the floor with the loud hissing noise coming from the brake pedal area when the brakes are pressed with the car running. I took the hose going from the booster to the carburetor off and plugged it and the noise went away. I am going to replace the check valve and if that fails, I guess I'll be sending my booster out for a rebuild. I just figured the master cylinder was the problem since the brake pedal wash mushy. Brake lines are stainless and look ok. Brake hoses to each wheel look bone dry. Guessing this is all a vacuum issue. 

[Chris Codd]

I'm trying to keep this cost efficient as possible, but I also don't want to cheap out on something as important as brakes. Tony, I think you're right about going with the Delco. It was hard enough trying to find the rebuilt Bendix. Another few years and they'll probably all be gone. Dave, thanks for the tip about the rebuilder, but I'm in Maryland and that shipping to California would probably cost as much as some brand new parts here on the East Coast. I'll keep y'all posted on what I get and how it turns out. 

[Chris Codd]

Thanks for all of your input. Jason, I found the parts number on Cardone's website and after a lottttttt of searching, found the only reputable place with a rebuilt Bendix master cylinder to be O'Reilly Auto Parts.  The part number is 10-1236. I really didn't want to replace the booster because it looks like a serious pain, but I guess i'll go ahead and pick one up as well. Now since I'm replacing both, I guess it doesn't matter if I go with Bendix or Delco. 

[Jason Edge]

I haven't looked at what is available in a while but they have not made the exact same Bendix master cylinder since 1966! (see illustration below of an original 1964 Bendix Booster and Master Cylinder) Both the Delco Morraine style and Bendix evolved over the years (e.g. 63's are very different from 64) generally going to the wire pullover master cylinders we have seen for the last 30+ years. 

So, unless you are looking for an exact 64 style Bendix master cylinder, go with a later style Bendix. If you cannot find the Bendix MC or MC/Booster Combo, look for the Delco MC/Booster combo. I know Autozone, Rock Auto and others had them in years past but went thru like a 2 year stretch where ther was nothing available but have seen some some stores restocking them.  I did a quick check and it looks like AutoZone is showing a Delco MC and Delco Booster.  

For references including shop manual illustration and actual pictures look on our Help Page under Brakes. If you want an original 1964 style MC like the one below I sell cores to rebuild for $50.  You can contact Cardone.com direct and see if they can rebuild a core if you send them one if they do not have one on hand or cannot point to a local store that has one.

If you just want a booster look for the newer type that will work with the Bendix, or again get the matched combo. Just remember Delco MC to Delco Booster, Bendix MC to Bendix Booster.

[Chris Codd]

I called Bendix and they don't make master cylinders anymore and don't have a list of models that they have installed in cars so chasing down the part number is looking bleak. Can I swap a Delco model in or do I need to replace my booster as well?

[Chris Codd]

Thanks Tony, I think i'll end up changing the master cylinder. I've got a Bendix master cylinder in my car, but I can't seem to find a part number and it isn't listed in the shop manual as far as I can tell. If anybody out there could give me a part # for that Bendix master cylinder, it would really help me out.