1954 Hornet Power Brakes?

hudshornet
hudshornet Expert Adviser
in HUDSON
Does anyone have an idea as to what master Cylinder this might be? I haven't seen one like it before and need to get a rebuild kit.

Comments

  • SuperDave
    SuperDave Senior Contributor
    It's a Bendix Treadlevac. Google it. There are kits available plus rebuilders. A very different MC for sure.
  • hudshornet
    hudshornet Expert Adviser
    And there is the answer. Thanks, that is an odd booster for sure. I am thinking I may just replace it with dual circuit power master cylinder rather than rebuild the thing as they seem to be both expensive to rebuild and rather strange.
  • SuperDave
    SuperDave Senior Contributor
    Rather than a piston and seal that pushes the fluid.. They use a piston that displaces fluid. They seem to work OK when properly rebuilt. I think GM used them back in the day also.
  • 50C8DAN
    50C8DAN Senior Contributor
    I would like to jump on this thread.  I drove a '54 Hornet today with power brakes, but I came away with either this is a worthless option or the power unit was not working.  Since this is my first experience with a Tredle-vac I have no basis to judge, but my Studebakers with hydrovacs you can really feel the assist.  So anyone that has experience with this option chime in.  I found the peddle hard and not much help, my '50 C8's brakes are far better.
  • onerare39
    onerare39 Expert Adviser, Member
    edited November 2016
    A common problem with the 54 power brakes is the deterioration of the rubber brake hose that goes from the power unit to the distribution block.  Replacements were impossible to locate so many never got changed out.  I found a company that will make new hoses that are DOT approved.

    When I got my 54 with power brakes I found that they either worked well or not at all. At one time I had a hard pedal and NO BRAKES.  It was due to the deterioration of that rubber brake hose.  I changed it out and they now work perfect.

    John Forkner


  • 50C8DAN
    50C8DAN Senior Contributor
    John can you send me a full scan of your order?  Perhaps this is something that could be sold by Doug Wildrick or the HET store since it would probably be cheaper to buy a quantity of them.

    Thanks

    Dan

    HETdanwhite@mac.com (eliminate the HET)
  • bob ward
    bob ward Senior Contributor
    Custom brake hoses ain't that hard to obtain, there are any number of brakes shops that can (legally) reproduce a hose from a sample.
  • onerare39
    onerare39 Expert Adviser, Member
    Dan,

    What I posted on the other thread was a picture of the invoice.  I took the picture a few years ago and can't locate the original invoice at the moment.  Tompkins Supply did say that these can be ordered over the phone with the numbers shown on my invoice.  They have a few locations around the country.  I have one about 20 minutes away from me if you need me to order one for you.

    BQ101 is the hose size and type
    HF16, HF16 are the two ends
    16.75 is the length of the hose.  I think that is the finished length.

    Let me know if this helps.

    John Forkner 
This discussion has been closed.

Categories

In this Discussion