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This topic was covered serveral times several years ago. Unfortunately Dr. Spreadbury passed away in 2022. Does anyone know where a remote brake fluid safety reservoir can be purchased or how to fabricate one? In addition, where can a compatible reservoir 3/4 cap be purchased? Also, I own Dr Morbius' old Pacific. In 2016 in the forum he touted using silicon brake fluid on his Caribbean and Paciific. I assume DOT 5.0. Not glycol DOT 3/4/5.1. From climbing over the fender and diving deep down to open the reservoir cap, how do you tell the difference between silicon and glycol fluid? Color? Smell? The reason I ask is I recently had the brakes checked and now they squeal like a mother. My concern is DOT 3, 4 fluid was mixed with 5.0. The brake issue prompted me again to look into Wilwood front disc's. Wilwood was very informative. Has anyone ever removed the internal residual 10lb pressure valve and replaced with an inline 2lb pressure valve for the front and added a 10lb inline pressure valve to the rear drum brakes? Where do the new inline residual pressure valves correctly go? Wilwood also mentioned that the rubber brakes hoses must absolutely be replaced with braided steel lines. Suggestions on where to purchase are welcome.

Regards
TC

Check Stewart Ballards 55 project blog. He ordered a kit and cap for another brand car that would also work for your 54. If you like the style it would be an option. As described a few plages later in the blog you would need to change the hose to a better one or else use metal tubing and also make the same plumbing fitting changes as he did since your master is in the same location.

I also covered this in my project blog when I discovered that remote reservoir. Here is where it starts on my blog:

packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/newbb ... d=57&post_id=237866#forumpost237866

Thank you for your responses Howard and Kevin. I have scoured all the old forum content as far back as 2008 regarding a remote brake reservoir. I checked several distributors for the ZF Mico part #30-030-031 cap. They all mentioned Mico does not make the part anymore. I did come across a Haldex #RN21AM master cylinder cap though, which has 1/2-20 in flow on the top and 1.25-18 for the bottom. Packards cap bottom is 1.25-18? I have a Wilwood #260-12697 Master Cylinder Reservoir Kit with -3 AN out flow fitting on bottom. Earl's has a -3 AN adapter #AT984603ERL to a 1/4" hose barb. I also have 1/4 inch Pegasus fluid hose and a 1/4 inch -1/2-20 hose barb. I'm curious how the Wilwood mounting 1/4-20 X 1.5 bolts will go into the firewall though because I am clearly not getting behind the firewall anytime soon. Sheet metal or self tapping screws? Will they hold the weight? Regarding my previous post, the current fluid is DOT 3/4/5.1 amber fluid. Not Purple silicon DOT 5 fluid. Lastly, the Wilwood tech still had me wigging about a single brake line. Even with front disc brakes, braided steel hoses and a remote reservoir......am I still gearing up for death ride 2025 if the brakes fail? How do old guys in old Packards survive with an old brake system? How do you punt the Bendix Treadle Vac and create tandem brake lines? Regards TC

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Make sure your E-brake is adjusted properly, and don't tailgate...

Really the chance of a single line brake system is so remote it should not be a concern as long as the lines and hoses are in good condition. The area of concern should be the BTV/fluid and the general health of the system.

Hydraulic brakes were first used in mass production in the mid-20's yet a dual master debuted in the early 60's. Is it a coincidence that the need for this was recognized after there was time to have brake failures on decades old, rotted out jalopies?

Even my 1965 Imperial has a single reservoir master and is fine but, as with any brake system, it must be kept in good condition with annual flushing no matter how much or how little it’s driven.