Re: '54 Clipper Brakes Different Than Specs

Posted by BH On 2010/1/27 10:56:25

It's good to see that someone is checking the available shop manual, but know that Packard also published service newsletters and bulletins as a supplemental source of information for their dealers. This site has collected a significant quantity of that material, but did you know we have an electronic index to some of it?

Click on the Packard Service Index link in the Main Menu, along the right side of the screen. Luckily for you, the 51-54 index is open for business. If you take a look in the "Brakes section", there is a bulletin that may prove enlightening, as the differences go beyond the shoes, linings, and drums. It seems as if some '54 Clipper Super chassis (5411) were built with 12" brake equipment, as used on the '53 Clipper Deluxe (2611), because material for the (new) 11" brake equipment was not available.

I can't tell you how long this went on or why, but the parts book also makes distinction in its application listings for the 5411 chassis WRT 11" vs. 12" brakes.

Perhaps others can provide some additional insight.