Re: [Amc-list] 59-60 Power brake unit in 64 Classic?

[Steve Cornelius <steve.c@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Frank wrote:
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>If you want power brakes and don't have them now, you can get a new setup from MP Brakes. Get one for a 70s Ford, but tell them it's either going in a Ford or it's a replacement for a custom hot rod. If you tell them it's for an AMC they will tell you they have nothing that fits AMCs, even though I know for a fact it's the same Bendix part used by AMC. It's a liability issue -- they haven't fit one in an AMC and the manufacturer doesn't support it for AMC, and they won't sell it "for an AMC". 
---

Frank, this is really fascinating. It puts something in context that I never quite understood.

My quasi-related brake part story of late:

My 71 humpster sat for 15+ years before being pulled out of storage before I got it, and the brakes were full of rust. Front caliper bleeders wouldn't seal, master cylinder leaked, rear cylinders corroded beyond hope. Of course, it's getting all new stainless plumbing, rear and master cylinders replaced, etc.

I took the calipers and the booster to a big local brake shop here in Phoenix to be rebuilt, told them what the application was, they said "come back tomorrow, they'll be all set".

2 days later, went back to pick up my parts. They brought my booster out disassembled, and left it that way due to some cracks around the mount studs. I understood that, would have appreciated a phone call though. They basically told me "you'll have to find a better core on your own, don't know where you'd get one". OK, but this is a dual-diaphragm Bendix, I didn't think they were all that uncommon.

"Where's my calipers?" I ask. "Oh, we couldn't even find pistons for those, you're on your own". This is now leaving me a little annoyed, how uncommon can single-piston Kelsey-Hayes calipers be? And this is a big shop, with 20-30 people working there, I would think they'd be "experts"...

Since then, I found KH pistons and seals at RockAuto, no less. I guess I'll just have a local machine shop vat the calipers for me. Jeff Kennedy's brake guy has my booster, we'll see if it can be brazed. Meanwhile, if I have to, I found a clone of the dual-diaphragm Bendix booster online, for a Ford application of course (although it could be Chinese-made, I can't tell).

This episode happened the last week in December. I started to expect my mistake was telling them the truth about the application, and once I read what you wrote here, something just went "click" in my head. It's sorta like buying stuff for aircraft applications; if you really need it, just tell 'em it's for a tractor or something...

So, for certain purposes, maybe I really have a '70 Rustang? ;)

-steve c.









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