Re: Waking Sleeping Beauty

Posted by Jim L. in OR On 2012/5/24 19:24:37

By the way gang, Last Friday morning I got the call from my mechanic that at long last my '55 Patrician (AKA Sleeping Beauty) was ready for me to pick up. Unfortunately, I'd already committed to fill in for someone at work that day. As it turned out; it didn't matter. An hour later, he called back and asked if I hadn't rebuilt the master cylinder. As said that I'd cleaned it up and vacuumed out all the "chaff" that was formerly brake fluid but that I hadn't rebuilt it as I was going to leave that to them. My next words were:

"Why do you ask?!?!?!"

It seems that they were backing it out of it's inside parking place and "Look Ma, no brakes!. My mechanic then asked, "Is this the reason you said that the first thing you wanted taken care of was to make the E-brake 100% dependable?" YES!

So much for communication. Anyway, the E-brake stopped the Packard before anything got damaged and I ordered the complete Master Cylinder rebuild kit from Max Merritt for $95. This is the kit that covers both the Vacuum Side as well as the Hydraulic. My Mechanic should get it tomorrow. Monday I drove out with the spare unit I bought on e-bay and we'll use the best of both for the rebuild.

We've also come up with a "back-up" for the compensator valve. We've built a remote fill with the outlet on the bottom of the container with the line going to the MC. On the lid of the reservoir we've installed a fluid back flow preventer that I found. The theory of this is that whenever the original reservoir gets low, gravity will top it off. Should the compensator valve fail to seat the back flow preventer will seal off the brake fluid's escape forcing the fluid to go to it's original destination.

I'm also planing to install a "low fluid" switch which will be hooked to a buzzer under the dash to warn if the remote reservoir is getting low on brake fluid.

I really was hesitant to bring this up as the last thing I want is to re-start the "Great Treadle-Vac Wars".

We also will be doing a intense post mortem of the unit that failed on the car. I will report back all that we found out.

I know that this isn't a safe as a two circuit brake system but I've got to financially digest the bill I know is waiting for me before I deciding whether to go with a different system. A footnote: Last week the master cylinder on my '95 Town Car failed - both front and rear. My mechanic said he'd never heard of such a thing happening before but there I was!

There is a vacant shopping center near me with a big empty parking lot. The first Sunday morning I have my '55 back, I'm taking it to that lot and getting know my E-brake and practice using it until it becomes second nature.

Well, more news as it happens-

Jim L. in OR