thirtyfourdodge Posted January 14, 2013 Share Posted January 14, 2013 I ordered Master Cylinder and Wheel Cylinders from Bernbaums for my 34 Dodge. Started to put cylinders on rear end and when I opened packages I found they were all stepped cylinders 1-3/8" on one end and 1-1/4" on the other. Two for left side and two for right side. The ones that were on the car weren't steeped and it had 1-1/4" on front and 1-1/8" on rear. They fit O.K. but will they work right? Sure would make more stopping force but is the volume of the master cylinder sufficient to work and shouldn't the ones on the rear have smaller bores? The guy I talked to at Berbaums didn't know if the sizes shipped were right and to call back tomorrow and maybe someone else might know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ply33 Posted January 14, 2013 Share Posted January 14, 2013 1-1/4 on front and 1-1/8 on rear is what the '33 Plymouth had too. I used "Safe-Line W18262" on my fronts which are actually 1-3/8 diameter (still available from NAPA as UP 18262). Still have a reasonable amount of travel left when the shoes are properly adjusted, so I guess the step bore cylinders might be okay for volume. Worse comes to worse, you could get the NAPA cylinders and then send them off to be sleeved down to the original diameter. Or, of course, have your originals sleeved. Seems like I was able to find a match up for the 1-1/8 used in the rear but that was a couple of decades ago and I don't have notes to show what I found then and I can't find a match up now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tinkeys Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 Hi Guys !pretty sure the wheel cylinders on my34 Dodge are all 1-1/4 all round australian model and I also have a 1930 U Plymouth sedan same all round go figure !!cheers Tony. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thirtyfourdodge Posted January 15, 2013 Author Share Posted January 15, 2013 I called Bernbaums and was told that they sell a lot of the wheel cylinders like this and as far as they know there has not been any problems. Going to go ahead and put them on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hchris Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 I ordered Master Cylinder and Wheel Cylinders from Bernbaums for my 34 Dodge. Started to put cylinders on rear end and when I opened packages I found they were all stepped cylinders 1-3/8" on one end and 1-1/4" on the other. Two for left side and two for right side. The ones that were on the car weren't steeped and it had 1-1/4" on front and 1-1/8" on rear. They fit O.K. but will they work right? Sure would make more stopping force but is the volume of the master cylinder sufficient to work and shouldn't the ones on the rear have smaller bores? The guy I talked to at Berbaums didn't know if the sizes shipped were right and to call back tomorrow and maybe someone else might know.Stepped cylinders were the norm for the era, many owners in later life found the originals unobtainable and simply refurbished them by honing out to parallel bore, this probably explains the status of your removed cylinders.Obviously the master cylinder was designed to work with the stepped wheel cylinders but experience has shown that there is not a lot of difference when they are parallel anyway. My personal experience with a 34 Chrysler fitted with parallel bore cylinders is that the car stops exactly as I would expect for one of this era. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1936 D2 Posted January 15, 2013 Share Posted January 15, 2013 I called Bernbaums and was told that they sell a lot of the wheel cylinders like this and as far as they know there has not been any problems. Going to go ahead and put them on.And THAT's the problem I find with Bernbaum's. They are in it to sell it. They don't seem to really know, don't really seem to care, and have been this way for a very long time. If it's "close enough" for you, it is "good enough" for them. If you just want to "make it work" they will find you a part. If you are trying to go for originality, good luck. None of their parts are referenced to original part numbers (that I have ever seen) which is probably a good idea on their part. "thirtyfourdodge"s issue is typical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken_Lincoln Posted January 16, 2013 Share Posted January 16, 2013 I also got a set of stepped cylinders from Bernbaums, and I was not happy with the way my car was stopping. I spoke to an "old guy " who had done his apprenticeship on old Dodges ... His advice was to have my original cylinders sleeved and to use woven brake linings... as asbestos is now banned from brake linings, the new compounds are too hard and do not work well with older systems..... My car now brakes better than when new but with modern traffic conditions and speeds , I am looking at ways to improve . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thirtyfourdodge Posted January 16, 2013 Author Share Posted January 16, 2013 I guess I will hold on to my old wheel cylinders in case these don't work out. If I would have known sooner I would have sent these back and had the old ones sleeved or find right ones somewhere else. I also got a pair of lower A frame rubber bumpers that weren't correct. The ones on it are 2-3/4" dia. and 3" long with 2 ea. 5/16" studs. The ones I got were smaller and only one 3/8" bolt. Can use them on top if I drill the bolt hole out to 3/8" instead of orig. 5/16". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1936 D2 Posted January 16, 2013 Share Posted January 16, 2013 I guess I will hold on to my old wheel cylinders in case these don't work out. If I would have known sooner I would have sent these back and had the old ones sleeved or find right ones somewhere else. I also got a pair of lower A frame rubber bumpers that weren't correct. The ones on it are 2-3/4" dia. and 3" long with 2 ea. 5/16" studs. The ones I got were smaller and only one 3/8" bolt. Can use them on top if I drill the bolt hole out to 3/8" instead of orig. 5/16".Sad. Just sad. And everyone keeps suggesting his parts. Too bad. He really needs to step up to the plate!"thirtyfourdodge", if I were you I surely wouldn't bore out the hole just to install an incorrect part. Future rebuilders of the A-frame will be confused or fit a correct part sloppily. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
32bizcoupe Posted January 16, 2013 Share Posted January 16, 2013 Check out karpspowerbrake.com stainless steal sleeve in your original wheel seals and master cylinder. Guy knows his stuff and I am very happy with mine. There is nothing better than restoring the original! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mark1934* Posted January 17, 2013 Share Posted January 17, 2013 I also got a set of stepped cylinders from Bernbaums, and I was not happy with the way my car was stopping. I spoke to an "old guy " who had done his apprenticeship on old Dodges ... His advice was to have my original cylinders sleeved and to use woven brake linings... as asbestos is now banned from brake linings, the new compounds are too hard and do not work well with older systems..... My car now brakes better than when new but with modern traffic conditions and speeds , I am looking at ways to improve .I spent 6 months trying to get my brakes to work after I installed those "replacement" cylinders from Bernbaums. I talked to them about it more than once. No help. Plus you have grind part of the front ones to use the original fittings. Replaced master cylinder twice. Didn't help. Bought the brake adjustment too on eBay everyone recommended (Ammco 1750)and it helped but still not much braking power. I am definitely going to have original cylinders rebuilt and try the brake lining you recommended. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1936 D2 Posted January 17, 2013 Share Posted January 17, 2013 The other thing to remember with cars that have the stepped cylinders is that the surface on the brake shoes themselves are different lengths for the different sizes of cylinder diameter. They were engineered that way - probably for a reason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ply33 Posted January 17, 2013 Share Posted January 17, 2013 I spent 6 months trying to get my brakes to work after I installed those "replacement" cylinders from Bernbaums. I talked to them about it more than once. No help. Plus you have grind part of the front ones to use the original fittings. Replaced master cylinder twice. Didn't help. Bought the brake adjustment too on eBay everyone recommended (Ammco 1750)and it helped but still not much braking power. I am definitely going to have original cylinders rebuilt and try the brake lining you recommended.Might not be with the hydraulics but with the geometry: With the Lockheed brakes especially, having the shoe ground to the correct diameter for your drums is needed for best braking performance. I've heard that some places that specialize in truck brakes can still do that.In any event, small drum brakes will not have the the fade resistance of modern disc brakes. That together the small tire to road contact area will mean your braking will be less than you might be used to. I allow lots of extra space ahead of me for braking my '33. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 1930 Posted January 17, 2013 Share Posted January 17, 2013 You guys must have alot of patience, I would not let Bernbaum get away with the crap that I am hearing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian_Greenlaw Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 I'm with you Jason, its not good enough these guys sell parts that arn't acceptable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knobless Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 I'm with you Jason, its not good enough these guys sell parts that arn't acceptable.He also sells on epay under an asumed name: Vintage Mopar Direct". at higher prices than on his sight,,,word to the wise........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tinkeys Posted January 18, 2013 Share Posted January 18, 2013 Hi guys !i have recently spoken to an older mechanic that knows the old girls very well (Chrysler ) I mean ! He told me he got linings made longer on the shoes and also machined them on the backing plate for circumference grind on shoes.i read about this grinding procedure somewhere , it's a machine or cutter that fits on stub axle and it cuts the linings to almost perfect circumference ,I suppose it would improve friction area on drum !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlymouthPE Posted November 9, 2017 Share Posted November 9, 2017 I know this is an old post but just goes to show that some things sometimes can go from bad to worse. I'm referring to the response which indicates a stepped bore with 1 1/4 on one end and 1 3/4 on the other? Re: OldMoparts.com Question 11/8/2017 4:05 PM Andy Bernbaum Auto Parts To Diane Miller ok stephen, what we sell on those number is 1 1/4" on one side, 1 3/4" on another side this replaces all the other bore sizes on 1930 through 1938 some of the early cars were 1 1/4" on both sides, some were 1 1/8 on one side and 1 3/4 on the other side all went to 1 1/4 and 1 3/4 by late 1934 is our information we reproduce these cylinders to retro fit the earlier cars and have been selling them for years, no problem small bore faces forward hope that is helpful thanks cp On Wed, Nov 8, 2017 at 3:47 PM, OldMoparts.com Website <web_admin@oldmoparts.com> wrote: Date Sent:11/8/2017 3:47:42 PM Name: Stephen Miller Email: diane.miller2@sympatico.ca Phone: 4166222488 Question: G 181, 182 front wheel cylinders Is the piston bore 1 1/4 inch? G 183, 184 rear wheel cylinders Is the piston bore 1 1/8 inch? Also do you have in stock the metal brake shoe anchor b… -- Andy Bernbaum Vintage Auto Parts 93 Border Street Newton, MA 02465 1-617-244-1118 1-617-244-1164 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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