Cleaning the master brake cylinder ???

[mnyman]

Any recommendations on cleaning and reusing the original master cylinder? My '68 only has 31K miles but has been sitting around most of it's life. I was thinking I could clean it out, has sludge in the bottom, and reuse it. It is not power assist. I know I could just buy a new one. They are not very expensive from what I see. I just like the idea of not spending money unless it's necessary. Thanks.

[ExplorerNC]

Usually if they have been sitting any amount of time, the seals are bad. Especially if it has not had fluid in it. I would say spend the $20 and get a reman one. Cheap insurance, especially when brakes are involved!

[fordman]

if your going to clen it . take it off clear all the old fulid out with a rag or something. see if you can put it in a vise and pump it and make all the old fluid come out of it. then i would use brake kleen sprayand a rag. its for cleaning brake parts. once you are happy with cleaning it. you may paint it if you have cleaned it. then put it back in the vise add fluid to the reseviors and bench bleed the new fluid into it until the fluid come out clear. then reinstall and bleed the brake system.

[ICEMAN6166]

Usually if they have been sitting any amount of time, the seals are bad. Especially if it has not had fluid in it. I would say spend the $20 and get a reman one. Cheap insurance, especially when brakes are involved!

i would just buy a new one and be done with it.i am kind of tight with $ but the difference between $20 spent vs. a couple hours of work cleaning and possibly rebuilding one is not worth it.

[fordman]

i almost forgot they do sell the rebuild kit for them if you want to do that. but buying one would be a better deal anyway.

[NM5K]

Actually....I'd almost rather rebuild the master...
Why? Cuz 94.7 % of the time, the one they will
give you will be a "new style" master cyl, and
won't fit right.. It will bolt in, but the pushrod
will be the wrong length.. I've got a new one that
I *was* going to replace my still working old one.
But the new one ended up being bad, and I was so
disgusted by the poor fit, I decided to put my old one
back on. I still have the bad new one in the garage..
I need to go get it changed out, and possibly try
to get the correct fit. But every one they have given
us so far didn't fit right. This was for both the 68 and
the 74. I think LMC will give you the right one, but
I haven't ordered one from them yet.. But the book
seems right as far as the description and picture.
MK

[fordman]

who are you gettting your from?

[NM5K]

Various auto parts stores..
MK

[fordman]

why is it not fitting properly? is it the bolt holes or what?

[ICEMAN6166]

that sounds strange to me, i have never had a fitment problem with master cylinders.i have a new one on the shelf in my shop, i will write down the part # and post it.