A was for Austin, but now B is for Bedford

During my two weeks of non-truck endeavours I have come to the conclusion that it is difficult to build a cabin cruiser on a canoe budget.   (Not that I'm actually building a cabin cruiser but it may make sense to those of you who never have the money to achieve their dreams.)

Last week the price I was quoted for sleeving the master cylinder and rebuilding it was twice what I was expecting! Perhaps I'm still living in the past?

While I deal with the master cylinder dilemma I have decided to go back to basics and dismantle the brake system to ensure everything is free and moving as it should. The cost for this should be nothing, except for a bit of time and effort. Consequently I started by centralising the truck in its shed, put it on axle stands, and (during advert breaks in the Bathurst telecast) removed the rear wheels. Later this afternoon two West Australian visitors required a tour of the Heritage Centre - interrupting some of Bathurst for me.    Next step (possibly tomorrow) will be removing the axles and brake drums. 

As a side note, and just to confuse me more, the truck moved cleanly with no shuddering or backfiring in any gear (1st, 2nd and Reverse) during the movements to achieve its new location - if it had done that when I did my test run it probably would have gone to Blyth! Whatever, I will continue with my latest plan to dismantle and sort the braking issues.

Meanwhile the Earth will continue to rotate on its axis as it orbits around the sun . . .  

I think most of us never have the money to achieve our dreams, that's why they are called dreams

In recent times I have come to conclusion that I need to live to about 150 to achieve half the projects I have going on these days

Had a D series Ford that the brakes locked on, found out it was mudwasps that blocked the air return vent for the master cylinder

Some times the simplest things can cause the biggest headaches


Paul

Update: Haven't got to the back brakes yet BUT I have removed the O Type master cylinder and booster from B for  AND the one from the "spare" D Type truck also. This was done so I had three master cylinders on hand for the rebuild of at least one!?

The D Type had a slightly different booster unit although the master cylinder is interchangeable with the O Type unit (? to all appearances at least ?). Even though not free to move the pushrod it had an extremely good rubber cover at the front of it, suggesting a rebuild at some time in its life. Once the master cylinder and booster were separated I was able to move things sufficiently to push some brake fluid from it - but did not persist in case I caused unnecessary damage inside. It was tight.    

Meanwhile an old hot-rodding friend I haven't spoken to for a few years contacted me by pure chance and, in conversation about what we were doing generally, mentioned the brake set-up on his street rod. This led to him referring me to an older brake rebuilder who apparently does work for Power Brakes occasionally too. 

With this in mind I joined wife on her usual weekend visit to mind our youngest daughter's son. Needless to say this in turn enabled a convenient ability to relay the three master cylinders for appraisal on Saturday. By Sunday afternoon the brake rebuilder (John) phoned to inform me that he had spent the morning with the assistance of an oxy torch to undo the rear fitting on the two cylinders I could not turn at all. Better still, he is confident that one of the cylinders will only need seals as bore is okay, so rebuild cost will be considerably cheaper than my first quote. A second cylinder may be reviewed for possible stainless insert?  

More news as it comes, or if I actually get my hands dirty again on the back brakes.     
 

John doesn’t happen to live next to a train line near the station by any chance
Gumpy

Spot on Gumpy.   

No doubt you have had dealings with John, or have knowledge from other sources? If so can you expand on his work results which might be useful to know. 

Thanks muchly.  

John D………. Was my neighbour when I lived in Adelaide, I lived at no. 69 , I did some concrete work in his shed. When you see him say hello from Robert from down the rd, who’s now moved to the country. He’s a really nice guy and from my understanding his work is (was) unparalleled, he would have lots of hot rod, motorcycle and brake people bringing stuff to him all the time and he could fix things that no one else could
Gumpy

Great, certainly will do Gumpy.  

Although I was only there for about half an hour we had spoken over the phone beforehand and John's open honesty about what he would do was reassuring in itself.

I found him very easy to discuss things with and we shared a few laughs during our chat.

Your comment backs up what my mate said and makes me feel so much better. Thanks again.

grumpygumpy:  When John rang me to inform me he had found some new seals for $76 I passed on your message, if you would like his phone number to contact him let me know.

Further to the above, John rang me today to let me know the master cylinder was ready for pick-up, and at $200 considerably cheaper than the Power Brakes quote.   

Also, I have worked my way into the brakes and now need to ensure the bisector plungers are moving freely in the unit. Unfortunately, for the sake of about one inch, the corrugated wall on the carport side will require a hole cut in it to allow removal of the second axle. 

This is all positive news and sounds very promising for the stopping department

Paul

I think I still have his number, but I’ll get it again just in case
Gumpy