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Brake Fluid Reservoir
#1
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Marty or Marston
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I'm getting ready to replace the brake light switch by installing the kit available from Pacific Northwest Packard's. I figure that I to count on bleeding the system after installing the switch. Looking at the glass bottle reservoir I don't see anyway to add fluid without unscrewing the glass bottle. Is that the correct way to add fluid or I'm I missing something?

Posted on: 2017/11/5 14:27
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Re: Brake Fluid Reservoir
#2
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Owen_Dyneto
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Never had to bleed the system after changing hydraulic brake light switches on the 55/56 cars.

Can't help with the remote filler question.

Posted on: 2017/11/5 14:51
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Re: Brake Fluid Reservoir
#3
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Marty or Marston
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Dave thanks for the input about not needing to bleed the system.

FYI: The car proved hard to start and it didn't matter much if it was cold or warm, but ran good once it was running. Therefore, I checked the carburetors thinking it might be a choke issue. Found that the accelerator pump (AP) on the rear carburetor didn't work (Guess it fell victim to ethanol poisoning). Got a new AC and installed it while the carburetor was on the engine. Problem solved.

Posted on: 2017/11/5 15:31
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Re: Brake Fluid Reservoir
#4
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HH56
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Quote:
Looking at the glass bottle reservoir I don't see anyway to add fluid without unscrewing the glass bottle.

I believe for the most part that is correct. Keeping the jar full will allow the fluid to siphon down to the master as well as let you see when it needs more. IMO, that is probably the easier way.

If wanted and it is the stock Packard reservoir accessory, there is a short length of flexible tubing connecting the master cylinder cap to the copper line from the remote reservoir. You could disconnect the remote fill there and remove the master cap to do the bleeding the old way. With the mess of draining and then refilling the line from the remote reservoir it would probably be more trouble than unscrewing the jar.

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Posted on: 2017/11/5 16:27
Howard
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Re: Brake Fluid Reservoir
#5
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Marty or Marston
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Howard thanks for your help. I was wondering is there some reason that Packard didn't have a port on top of the glass jar in the middle of the metal lid to add more break fluid?

Posted on: 2017/11/5 20:02
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Re: Brake Fluid Reservoir
#6
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HH56
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I can only surmise that the area for a covered opening was small and might be hard to fill without dripping some on whatever was underneath. Maybe they just figured it was as easy to unscrew the jar.

Posted on: 2017/11/5 20:22
Howard
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Re: Brake Fluid Reservoir
#7
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Marty or Marston
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Maybe I'm missing something as I can't figure out an easy way to unscrew the jar without removing the bracket.

Posted on: 2017/11/5 23:19
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Re: Brake Fluid Reservoir
#8
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HH56
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The jar should just unscrew once the safety retainer strap is moved.

Does the strap pull forward and out of the slot at the front of the bracket to release the jar or is it like the retainer holding the hydraulic pump reservoir where it is fixed on the ends but the shape under the jar works like a spring and will give enough as it pushes to the side to clear the bottom.

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Posted on: 2017/11/6 9:37
Howard
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Re: Brake Fluid Reservoir
#9
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Marty or Marston
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Howard, again thanks. I think my jar is slightly longer than the one in the picture as there is no slack in the spring strap for it to act like a spring. I bent the two ends on the top of the bracket down slightly. I was then able to force the tab over them to disconnect the spring.

Again, I want to thank Dave & Howard for their help. If I can make the time today or tomorrow I'll replace the switch. Hopefully, I can get by without bleeding the brakes. If it comes down to that I think it will only be necessary to do the front.

Posted on: 2017/11/6 11:11
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Re: Brake Fluid Reservoir
#10
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Leeedy
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What you have there is a rare dealer-installed Packard accessory remote safety brake fluid reservoir. Most people who have these cars have never even seen one. So it is certainly a feature that most would never know about... always best to post a photo.

In any event, as originally made, there was a snap-out retainer strap that fit under the glass reservoir jar to prevent unscrewing from vibrations. If your jar is longer, it may be a replacement that someone installed when the original got broken.

Either way... the method for adding fluid with this system is simply to unscrew the jar and add fluid, then reinstall the jar. A whole lot easier than going down to the depths below to unscrew the fitting on the Bendix Treadle-Vac master cylinder and try to see the fluid level... which is what most owners of these cars have to do. And the added bonus is that with the glass jar, you can see at a glance if your fluid is low.

RE: stop light switch replacement... As for bleeding the entire system for a stoplight switch change... not really necessary... as long as you simply unscrew the old switch and immediately screw in the new one... all without anyone touching the brake pedal. I've changed several of them over the years.


Posted on: 2017/11/6 12:58
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