Packard Forum Index » Modification Discussion

Take look in the parts X'Ref here. Not uncommon for the front and backs to use different size cylinders.

Im sure you're aware, but the puller is only needed on the rear drums. No puller needed on the front ones.

Ya i had looked on here at the part lists and that's whats confusing me cause some say 1"1/8 and others don't say anything on the size bit Google and some other people ive seen say 1"1/16. and the part numbers are a little all over the place so I just don't know

And yes i know the drum puller is only for the rears that's the whole reason I'm getting it

Here is the as built brake specs from the Jan 55 Vol 29 #1 Service Counselor. That issue has all the 55 introductory specs. Fronts are 1 1/8 and rears are 1 1/16.

Fronts do more of the braking so rears can be smaller since there is less weight in the rear and equal braking effort could be more prone to locking the wheels. Some have said rears are more to provide drag to slow and keep the rear end from trying to whip around and pass the front end in a sudden stop than actually useful in stopping the car. When I was growing up it was often a common practice in some circles to actually increase the front diameters a bit more than stock to try and get a bit more braking action.

You should be able to buy new cylinders locally once you got your old ones out. Napa has even had them for my commercial chassis 1951 Henney-Packard ambulance or could get them in overnight. If you just need kits, those should be available locality too.

Just go on RockAuto. I can confirm everything sold there will be correct for a 55 Clipper in the brakes department.

The only caveat to buying new cylinders even if the same brand is that they do not necessarily come from the same source. A pair I bought for my 1954 Patrician had one bleed fitting with a metric hex while the other was the proper size. Fortunately the threads were the same so I was able to replace the metric one with an original.