front brake wheel cylinders

[Bill Wolf]

I am trying to replace the front wheel cylinders on my 63 SDV and can't figure out how to get a wrench on the bolts holding them on. Does the backing plate have to come off and if so, how? Thank you for any help.

[Dennis P. DiBari]

Hi Bill,

      I restored my entire brake system on my 64 Coupe and the backing plate should not have to come off to remove the wheel cylinders.  The knuckle on the front wheel does get in the way and makes it harder to remove the cylinders and to bleed the brakes as well.  Maybe you can use an offset wrench at the 90 degree angle to get in the tight space? 

Dennis DiBari 

[Bill Wolf]

Hi Dennis,

      Thanks for the reply. There was no way to get any kind of wrench on either of the bolts because of the steering knuckle. What I had to do was grind a 1/2" box wrench down to 1/8" thick and then was able to get it on the bolts. I will attach a pic when I get it back together to show the issue.

Did you replace all the springs and pins on the brakes? If so, where did you get them?

Bill

[Dennis P. DiBari]

Hi Bill,

     EXCELLENT idea with grinding down the wrench - sometimes that is the only way.  The knuckles on our cars are terribly cumbersome.  I did replace some of the hardware and Caddy Daddy helped.  I bet Jason Edge has a lot of the items you need.  Send pictures when you can!  My email is [e-mail] or on the chapter website.  THANKS!

Dennis DiBari

[Bill Wolf]

[Bill Wolf]

Hello Dennis,

This saved me a lot of work. Glad I had wrench I was willing to do that with.

Bill

[Dennis P. DiBari]

Bill,

     Necessity IS the mother of invention!!!!  This is great - wonderful idea and you saved hours of work!!!!!  The knuckle is too large; same on my 64!!!  Excellent job.

Dennis DiBari