Made a trip to AutoZone and got another late 60's Chevy dual resevoir, drum/drum master cylinder today for the roadster. Bench bled it (it actually had bleeders on the ports, and came with the proper fittings and hoses to do the job, which the first one, from NAPA, didn't) and got it mounted. Had my wife help me re-bleed the system. This time, the pedal didn't driift to the floor, after pumping them three times to get pedal, but despite repeated bleeding, it still went to the floor the first time she pushed the pedal. I was about to tear my hair out when my buddy Mark rolled up in his chopped, Nailhead powered A bone coupe. I told him the story, and we started going over what was happening and what could be wrong. He agreed the first master cyl must have been bad. All new lines, new MC, new shoes and drums all around, wheel cylinders not leaking, no fittings leaking, did I adjust the brakes out? At that, a light bulb came on. I hadn't adjusted the brakes after putting everything back together! Back under the rear, adjusted the rear brakes, adjusted the fronts, got in and hit the brakes...YES! good hard pedal, about an inch of free travel, felt great! It just took another pair of eyes to see what I'd overlooked. It's the simple things that get overlooked sometimes. I was sure glad he dropped by, it is a huge relief and big step forward to get the brakes done.
So, basically the NAPA master was good, and it was your mistake? I hope you buy those guys some doughnuts to appollogize.
No, it was bad. Although adjusting the brakes was the real issue, the NAPA one leaked down (once the pedal was pumped three times), and the other one didn't. I'd have had to replace it anyway. I'm not complaining, and I'd have gone back to NAPA and gotten another cheapo one from them, but they're not open on sunday! The cost for the "new" one is 14 bucks, the napa one was about that, and the core charge is 9, so I'm not worried about the cost.
The Jalopy Journal
