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Expert
Posts: 2633
   
Location: Minor Hill, TN | My '61 plymouth has the powerbrake system I was wondering were I can get the item were I can add brake fluid when needed. I was told a funnel will not work |
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Expert
Posts: 4040
Location: Connecticut | 1961plymouthfury - 2014-08-31 2:45 PM My '61 plymouth has the powerbrake system I was wondering were I can get the item were I can add brake fluid when needed. I was told a funnel will not work Your power brakes are a closed hydraulic system. You should never need to add brake fluid. If you are, there is a serious problem. If you're looking to fill the m/c after flushing the lines, you can buy a funnel with a flexible extension attached to the bottom. This will work for both the Kelsey-Hayes and Bendix systems. Ron |
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Expert
Posts: 3777
Location: NorCal | ronbo97 - 2014-08-31 12:22 PM
Your power brakes are a closed hydraulic system
Not really, the single-pot MC only has a gasket sealing the lid and the lid is vented to the atmosphere, so the brake fluid can evaporate over time.
The later dual-pot MC's with the diaphragm cover gasket is a closed system. |
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Expert
Posts: 4040
Location: Connecticut | 57chizler - 2014-08-31 3:50 PM ...the single-pot MC only has a gasket sealing the lid and the lid is vented to the atmosphere, so the brake fluid can evaporate over time. Um, no. There is no vent hole to allow evaporation. And even if there was, brake fluid does not evaporate. I googled 'Does brake fluid evaporate'. Here's the answer that I found on answers.com: NO. Brake fluid is hydroscopic, meaning it adsorbs water. It is also petroleum based. If yours is low you either have a leak somewhere, it is time for a brake job because friction material is worn down letting pistons or wheel cylinders travel farther out of their bores, or it was never the right level to start with. Ron
Edited by ronbo97 2014-08-31 6:11 PM
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Expert
Posts: 2633
Location: Minor Hill, TN | I want to learn to check the brake fluid on the car to see if its were it belongs. 1 of these days I want to bleed the brakes on the car . |
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Expert
Posts: 2633
Location: Minor Hill, TN | I want to learn to check the brake fluid on the car to see if its were it belongs. 1 of these days I want to bleed the brakes on the car . |
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Expert
Posts: 2289
Location: Eastern Iowa | You maybe need to grow a couple more knuckle or wrist joints on yer hands first!! 
Checking the fluid level on these cars is a royal PITA!!
Level should be right at or near the top of the pot.
Try to locate a couple of these at a WalMart or parts or farm store.
Really come in handy for filling PB and PS pots.
They have a twist on/off valve as part of the screw on the bottle end.
Oh yes, and don't get the DOT3 on paint!!
If you are new to these cars, you should maybe get a FSM for your car also.
Good Luck!
 (brake spout 001.jpg)
 (brake spout 002.jpg)
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 brake spout 001.jpg (44KB - 116 downloads)
brake spout 002.jpg (28KB - 100 downloads)
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Veteran
Posts: 174
Location: Camptown PA | I use a gravy baster. A large hypodermic syringe also works. In a pinch I folded a piece of cardboard in half and poured the brake fluid down the crease into the master cylinder. Hope this helps. |
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Expert
Posts: 2289
Location: Eastern Iowa | Automatic tranny funnel also works in a pinch |
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Expert
Posts: 2633
Location: Minor Hill, TN | I was also told the aspirator used for bbq sauce would work also I am trying to locate 1 I went to walmart and there is none in stock. Most the time the walmart in Pulaski does not have what you need.
Edited by 1961plymouthfury 2014-09-02 3:59 AM
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Expert
Posts: 3777
Location: NorCal | ronbo97 - 2014-08-31 3:10 PM
57chizler - 2014-08-31 3:50 PM ...the single-pot MC only has a gasket sealing the lid and the lid is vented to the atmosphere, so the brake fluid can evaporate over time. Um, no. There is no vent hole to allow evaporation. And even if there was, brake fluid does not evaporate. I googled 'Does brake fluid evaporate'. Here's the answer that I found on answers.com: NO. Brake fluid is hydroscopic, meaning it adsorbs water. It is also petroleum based. If yours is low you either have a leak somewhere, it is time for a brake job because friction material is worn down letting pistons or wheel cylinders travel farther out of their bores, or it was never the right level to start with. Ron
That's the beauty of Google, I found an equal number of references that say glycol-based fluid does evaporate.
Look under the bolt head on the metal cover and you'll see several embossed ribs that provide a vent path. |
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Expert
Posts: 2633
Location: Minor Hill, TN | Were can I locate 1 that could be the answer, |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 782
Location: Edmonton, Alberta | I've read (thought don't have first hand experience), that if you have someone press the brake peddle , the bellows will contract ( I presume the car needs to be running) and this will give you easier access to the master cylinder. It's a free and cheap experiment to try before you have to resort to contortion!  |
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Expert
Posts: 1906
Location: Ontario, Canada | What I do is this. Before I install the new/rebuilt master cylinder I "chase " the threads of the cap through bolt. Either 1/4" -20 or 28 I don't remember. Blow out all metal chips and dry try the bolt. When installed on the car and in function all one needs to do is loosen the bolt with a 7/16" open end wrench, no more than a half turn, and then finger loosen the bolt the rest of the way, lift and push the cap to one side and check/add fluid as required. Reverse the process to reinstall the cap. I have done this on Dodges, Chryslers, Imperials and Plymouths, no big deal at all!!!
It would be impossible for me to count the number of supposedly NOS and other NEW master cylinders I have bought over the years. But, here is a lesson I learned. BE SURE TO BENCH TEST/ PRIME EVERY MASTER CYLINDER BEFORE YOU INSTALL IT!! Sorry if I have told this before! BUT, the rebuild guys need to make it look NEW. in order to do this they cuff off a few thousands off the mounting base. THE RESULT CAN BE THIS. When the MC piston retracts to normal it travels sufficiently to allow communication of the reservoir to the brake system tubing etc. IF TOO MUCH MATERIAL HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THE MOUNTING FLANGE, the piston cannot retract enough to do this. On the bench, simply make sure the tiny pin hole communicates with the piston gap!
Greg |
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Expert
Posts: 1906
Location: Ontario, Canada | Further to my previous post, I used to order several master cylinders every time I only needed one. GUESS WHAT?? NAPA or whoever would supply me with some I'm sure I sent back the previous time I had ordered them!! Buyer beware!! These suckers used to come back in new looking Wagner boxes!!
Greg |
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Expert
Posts: 2633
Location: Minor Hill, TN | There is a new master cylinder on my '61 . I to be able to check the fluid to see if it is were it needs to be. |
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power brakes
