Hi
What you have is the "early" wheel cylinder casting that cannot be used on 1960 and up three platform brake cars. I haven't seen the early casting rear wheel cylinder for years...this is amazing!, that they would reproduce the 1956 to '59 rear wheel cylinder casting ...Original Chrysler part number 1409973.
The platform thickness for the Total contact brake changed in 1960 (became wider with the "improved" Total contact brake) so a new wheel cylinder was released , Chrysler Part number 1857051. This cylinder can be used back to '56 but the early cylinder cannot be used on cars from '60 to '61. In fact this cylinder (1857051) became the norm for use on the rear and generally supplanted all listings for the rear wheel cylinder, your cylinder does not have a machining error!
The front cylinders in '60-'61 also have a wider opening to fit the wider platform sooo the '57 to early '59 wheel cylinders can't be used on a '60 to '61 car either despite the fact that they sure look the same until you measure or try to install them. I mentioned early '59 as the narrow gap cylinders were still used into the first few months of 1959,until the "new" three platform brake came on stream ...some listings show wheel cylinders fitting from '59 to '61 or '62 for Chrysler . I use 1959 as a cutoff and start in '60.
Further to the rear wheel cylinder...the last time 1409973 showed up in a Chrysler change-up catalogue was 1975!
The '60 to '61 cylinders are still available.
In case you think I'm talking through my hat I have owned and serviced My 1960 Desoto Adventurer for over 40 years and I also own 1957 to '59 cars been there done that....

The introduction of 3-platform brakes in Jan '59 for all models also brought about the new wheel cylinders that grunau mentioned. Many complaints about poorly functioning '59 brakes come about from mixing early and late '59 brake parts.

Ron

Andy Bernbaum has them: $48 each

http://www.oldmoparts.com/parts-service-brakes.aspx

Ron

I check the NAPA site and yes, they made the same error as the others. If you look at the enlarged photos on the NAPA site, you'll see what I mean.

Ron

Call Bernbaum's and let them know that they sent the wrong parts. Tell them that you can send them a photo to show the differences. They will either send the correct parts or refund your $$$.

Just FYI...in case it hasn't been mentioned, Bernbaum's is no longer owned by Andy. He sold the business about a year ago.

Ron

To repeat & hopefully clear this up for you ... what came out of Autozone etc. was the "early" wheel cylinder casting that cannot be used on 1960 and up three platform brake cars. Previously, this early casting rear wheel cylinder had not  been around for years!
What was recently  reproduced is the 1956 to early '59 rear wheel cylinder casting ...Original Chrysler part number 1409973.
As I explained before the platform thickness for the Total contact brake changed in 1960 (became wider with the "improved" Total contact brake) so a new wheel cylinder was released , Chrysler Part number 1857051. This cylinder can be used back to '56 but the early cylinder cannot be used on cars from late '59 & '60 to '61. In fact this cylinder (1857051) became the norm for use on the rear and generally supplanted all listings for the rear wheel cylinder! So as per my previous explanation; Originally the 60-61 rear wheel cylinder will replace the '56 to early '59 cylinder but not vice- versa . The aftermarket parts industry picked up on this as well and obsoleted the early cylinder as I stated that was over fourty years ago! ... the standard part number for the rear cylinders for all years concerned became 32555 and that was it...So ...whats happened it seems, is the early cylinder has been recreated for the aftermarket,  what should have happened is that the late cylinder should have been reproduced and I wouldn't be writing this!
The front cylinders should remain specific as late '59 & '60-'61 also have a wider opening to fit the wider platform sooo the '57 to early '59 wheel cylinders can't be used on a '60 to '61 car either despite the fact that they sure look the same until you measure or try to install them. I mentioned early '59 as the narrow gap cylinders were still used into the first few months of 1959,until the "new" three platform brake came on stream ...some listings show wheel cylinders fitting from '59 to '61 or '62 for Chrysler . I personally use 1959 as a cutoff and start in '60.

 I have 32555 cylinders that I bought quite a while ago (brand names are EIS and Guaranteed ) and they match the late '59 & 60 to '61 specs. So it seems that Now because of this error in the aftermarket  the '56 to early '59 cars are directly servicable but not so for late '59 & '60-'61 and I'm now pretty sure nobody in the Vintage aftermarket will be able to supply the correct cylinder for those model years.
It appears the solution will be to get the early style cylinder machined or go looking for Authentic NOS at swap meets etc. or get the original sleeved.


I also own a 1959 Dodge ...

What puzzles me very much is that back in the time of the FLK era there were two different brake cylinders for the pre 1959 FLK cars and the past 1959 cars (1409 973 for 1956 and up cars and 1857 051 for cars with 3 platform brakes).

When I'm searching at google for each of these numbers I get pages (most of all - even Rockauto) who proposes the W or WC32555 as the proper replacement. Rockauto for example shows in the table that the brake cylinder WC32555 (Raybestos) will fit 1956 to 1962 Chrysler cars - except 300 (only until 1959). No brake cylinders available at Rockauto for a 1960 300 by the way. Another page addresses the W32555 for the replacemet of both old (original) parts numbers.

In my opinion there is a big fault in the cross reference table when I look at the pictures of the issuer of this thread.

Happy Motoring!

Dieter

I was thinking about the rear wheel brake cylinders again.

I came to the conclusion why on earth didn't the manufacturers of the rear brake cylinders for the 1956 to 1961 era not machine down the bosses to mount the brake cylinders to the 3 platform measurement and provide an interface plate to meet the 1956 to 1959 (pre 3 platform) specification?  I assume the price would rise less than one dollar for each brake cylinder with this configuration.

Happy Motoring!

Dieter

BTW: when I look at the picture of the first thread, the original brake cylinder of his 1960 De Soto looks like a machined down version of the older brake cylinder...