VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 1931 brakes hydraulic upgrade or original

Is there an advantage (financially or otherwise) to replacing the original, mechanical brake system on our '31 4 dr. sedan with a hydraulic system? I've heard that the mechanical brakes are notorious for their lack of braking efficiency.

The decision is yours. The information you have been given is incorrect. If the '31 brake system is properly equipped and adjusted the car will stop up to the capability of the amount of tire on the road. With moderate pedal pressure all four tires will slide, squeal and smoke depending on speed. On extended downgrades if the brakes are not given time to dissipate the heat generated they will fade same as hydraulic drum brakes.

You likely have also been told that you can only drive the car at 45 mph or less and a bunch of other bunk. Stick around and you will learn a bunch about the capabilities and idiosyncrasies.

I agree....and switching to a hydraulic brake system would be very expensive!

I would look at it this way.

Years ago if you had a 4wd vehicle, to engage the 4wd you pulled a lever that operated control rods that moved the gears in the transfer case into position to engage. Much like your present all mechanical brake linkage system.

Now, if you have a new 4wd somebody who thought the old system was bad came up with either electrical or vacuum systems to take the place of the mechanical linkage. Now you push a button that sends an electrical pulse to a electrical solenoid that then moves the gears into position. In the case of a vacuum system, a valve is opened, either mechanically or electrically, then the vacuum pulls through a hose to a vacuum motor, which then pulls the gears into position to engage the 4wd.

Which system would you think has the least failure? Yup, the old school all mechanical one.

With the original system you can't blow a brake line, you can't have a line leak, you can't have a master or slave cylinder leak and all those issues are before the brake pads themselves which would pretty much be the same.

The difference is you have to properly adjust the mechanical ones and there is so much info hear from knowledgeable people like the Dog and Chipper that you will get it right. You have to remember that there is no lines to run or bend, no master to put in, no slave to put in or adapt backing plates to your wheels, no brake lines to bleed, etc. So that initial mechanical adjustment starts to seem pretty easy when you think about it!