Brake system rebuild - '72 parked 8 years, Fluid, lines, MC, calipers - what do I attempt myself Options

[skaufmann]

My '72 that was passed to me through family has been parked for 8+ years. I'm going to assume everything in the brake systems needs attention. While I'm not necessarily being cheap, I am trying to contain costs.

Questions I have:

1 - Should I and how do I flush the brake fluid? What product should I should I use and how much should I expect to need?

2 - I've read breaking loose the bolts to replace soft lines can result in ruined hardlines. What's the best method (product and/or procedure) to avoid damage?

3 - Should I assume the Master Cylinder needs to be rebuilt? Is there a way to test other than seeing if it works after everything else is taken care of? If it's bad can it reasonably be rebuilt or does it require a professional?

4 - Calipers: I know these need to be rebuilt. I'm contemplating trying to rebuild myself. I'm also contemplating sending them off to be done professionally. Any advise on which way I should go would be helpful.


Thanks ahead of time all you crazy teeners. Because everyone likes pictures, here it is just before being rescued. Also see signature for link to gallery.

[PDXMike]

You should be able to do the whole brake system by yourself, except maybe rebuilding the master cylinder. You should do it all in one shot. Its not ridiculously hard and you will EVENTUALLY end up replacing all of it anyway.

Definitely rebuild the front and rear calipers. The fronts are pretty easy. The rears are a pain, but can be done. There are good instruction on Pelican. Also make sure that your rear rebuild kit comes with the notorious parking brake actuator o-ring. The kit I got from Pelican had it. Re-assembly of the P-brake will lead you to invent new four-letter words, but it really just takes patience.

Definitely replace all the soft lines. This is cheap and you'll be bleeding all four corners anyway after the caliper rebuilds. These will fail and lead to re-bleeding the entire system as you replace each defective hose. Ask me how I know.

Probably replace the master cylinder. After market ones are about $100, OEM's are much more. People here will tell you that an after market master cylinder can only lead to flaming death, but you can decide for yourself.

The hardest part of replacing a master cylinder is getting the plastic lines from the reservoir fully seated in the MC. I pulled my fuel tank and disconnected the plastic lines at the reservoir. That let me pull the plastic lines down and make sure they were really connected. I don't know how it can be done any other way, but many others have managed to do it. Replace the blue silicone hoses at the reservoir. Make sure to get the right hose. Don't use fuel line as the brake fluid will eat it.

After that, bleed, bleed and bleed again. Right rear, left rear, right front, left front. Repeat. Repeat. Buy your brake fluid in quart bottles and don't be stingy with it. ABSOLUTELY make sure that the venting clearances on your rear calipers are set correctly. You will never get a firm brake pedal without that. Bleeding will take a LOT longer than you think it should.

Why don't we have a brake bleeding smiley?