Hi. I am looking for guidance on replacing wheel cylinders on my 56 88. Thanks

 

Rockauto shows to carry them and I would assume they could also be had at your local auto parts store.
1956 OLDSMOBILE 88 5.3L 324cid V8 Wheel Cylinder | RockAuto

 

Thanks for the line on replacement parts. Any guidance on the procedure to remove and replace? There is nothing in the shop manual.

 

Disassemble the brakes.
Unscrew the flare nut from the back of the wheel cylinder
Remove the two bolts.
Reverse process to install new one.
Reassemble the brakes.
Bleed the brakes.

 

Raise the car so that the tires are off the ground and support the car on jackstands .
Remove the brake drums . In the front , remove the grease cap and spindle nut . then pull the hub and drum together .
You will need to clean , inspect and re- pack the front wheel bearings .
You may need to back off on the brake adjustment to get them loose .
Remove all the brake shoes and hardware . But before you do , take a picture so you can get everything reassembled properly .
Remove the hydraulic lines or hoses and unbolt the wheel cylinders from the backing plate .
If the hoses look old , they should be replaced . The metal tubing should be replaced if it is rusty anywhere .
The brake shoes should be replaced if there is less than 50 percent of the lining thickness left . Compared with a new shoe .
Or if they have oil or brake fluid on them .
If you replace the shoes , then you must have the drums re-machined or replaced .

 

You don't have to get the drums cut unless they are warped causing the brake pedal to vibrate when depresssed.

 

You will notice, that rock auto can only supply Chineseum Rear wheel cylinders , for like 99 cents each... Would you trust your life to a 99 cents Chineseum wheel cylinder !?!?! (That are actually incorrect, besides, but that's another story !!!)

I have, as the ten year old thread you found indicated, the FRONT and Correct Rear Wheel Cylinders, whenever you want them.... Yours, Craig.....

 

Even better, just disassemble one side at a time. Use the other side as a reference when reassembling. Then use the newly rebuilt side as a reference for the other side. Of course, each side is a mirror image of the other, but that's no problem.

 

This is just setting up a strawman and then punching him down.

You will notice that EVERY supplier of new brake parts can only supply parts made in China. All new brake parts for restoring old cars, at least in my experience, are made there no matter the brand.

Rockauto's wheel cylinders are not 99 cents. They show Raybestos and AC Delco wheel cylinders, all for between $4 and $6.

I'm sure the AC Delco and Raybestos cylinders are made in China. But this has been true for many years. I have replaced wheel cylinders on several old cars over the last decade or so, all with Chinese-made, AC Delco-brand parts, and they've all worked fine. I'm sure that NOS pieces made in the U.S. are just fine, too, but Chinese-made parts is a reality if you want to repair and drive an old car these days.

By the way, EVERY part I bought for the brake job I'm currently doing on my '77 Toro was made in China. I bought AC Delco brand brake drums, wheel cylinders, and hold-down and adjuster hardware. The brake shoes are Centric. The same was true when I did the rear brakes on my '77 Toro four years ago. That time, I also had some Wagner and Raybestos parts, and they were all made in China, too.

It's perfectly fine to beat up on Rockauto for carrying Chinese-made parts, but then you'd have to beat up on every new part vendor out there. But let's not beat up on Rockauto for things that are not true, like their prices. I have bought many parts from them over the years, including the above-mentioned brake drums for my current job. No problems with their service or their parts.

 

jaunty 75,
Too bad you didn't call me on some of your sourced Chineseum parts --- I have some of that in
N.O.S. U.S.A. made parts--- including *** N.O.S. *** Asbestos *** Brake Shoes --- the softest, smoooooothest braking system known to mankind.....

Don't be in such a hurry to grab garbage... This site is a TREMENDOUS resource....

There are some Great people on this site, here to help, and keep your car beautiful ---
Joe P., Eric MDchanic, ME....

Yes, ALL current manufacturers of present day brake parts are garbage Chineseum.... Did you forget or never hear of N.O.S. ??? I have been involved in antique and classic cars for 50 years now
-- and amassed an unbelievable inventory of extremely glorious parts.... which many people on this site and many others ALWAYS call me first.... I have thousands of items, purposely, that
"Do Not Exist" or are "Unobtanium" on Planet Earth...

and.... if WRONG parts are 99 cents or $ 4.00, is there really a difference .... They are WRONG....
Who cares if they are $ 1 or $ 4.......