VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1949-1954 1950 Chev master cylinder

My 1950 Bel-Air standard shift has always had a hard brake pedal, somewere I think I read that by using a master cylinder from a 1953 or 54 (different size bore)(would they fit is stock location) they are better. My memory isn't what it used to be could anyone conferm this,and which cylinder would you recommend. Thanks Ross

Ross, the only difference in the 50 an the 53-54 master cylinder is the size of the bore, the 53-54 is 1/8" less diameter, which gives you a bit more pressure for the same force on the pedal. The 53-54 master cylinder will exchange with your older one. Personally I can't tell the difference, I think that the modern harder, slicker brake shoe materials account for the hard pedal, you may also consider replaceing the brakes on your car with the more modern ones that came out in 1951.

This summer I installed a 1953 M/cyl on my 1950 Power Glide.Before doing this the brakes felt almost the same as the mecahnical brakes on my '34.It made what I would say a 20 percent improvement.I never trusted the brakes for hi-speed driving and on hills.Now I feel I could stop much quicker and they did well in the mountains of Colorado.The smaller bore will require slightly more pedal travel for stopping but the difference was slight.Locking up the brakes at low spped still may not be possible but will "sqeal" the tires a little - which is better than locking them up.

Hello I have owned my car for 20 years and changed the brake shoes about 10 years ago. Will 1951 shoes fit a 1950, I thought they were different, does the aftermarket suppliers shoes have the proper softer material in them? I am going to buy a new master cylinder and try that. Gene you are right about not trusting the brakes (I never have) more than once I have tried to pushed my foot thru the floorboards. Thanks everyone for your help. Ross

I cannot understand the "not trusting the brakes" comments. Truly these are not modern power disc brakes but given the speeds for which they were designed and the traffic conditions at the time I have always found them to be more than adequate. When driving one of the older cars you have to get your mind in the old car mode or you certainly will have problems. Now having said that if the MC change will provide an improvement then I see nothing wrong with that. When I rebuilt the brakes on the 52 I got my new linings from NAPA, being the wonder boy that I am I did not check them for material content. What I ended up with is a set of brakes that require a great deal of peddle pressure, I recently had to change a wheel cylinder and took a good look at the lining, it is metal impregnated which is great for stopping when driving in extreme wet conditions but does require the application of somewhat greater pedal pressure. I may look around for some different lining this winter and redo the brakes as a winter project.

I trust the brakes on my 53 a heck of a lot more than I trust my 70 year old right leg! after all the 53 is only 53 years old!
By the way I do have a heavy foot both on the gas pedal and the brake pedal and I can lock up all four wheels on the 53, I have to be careful that I don't put too much pressure on the brake pedal and scare the people in the car ahead of me.I suppose the new lining materials work safer than the old stuff, otherwise why make the "improvements"?

I really think that the smaller diameter master cylinder was designed for the new crop of female drivers that started driving the new cars that got heavyer year by year with all the added weight due to styling and new improvements that added weight, like cast iron powerglide transmissions and A/C and power stuff, that the ladies really liked in the 50s, the smaller master cylinder was a band-aid that helped until power boosted brakes became common place in the late 50s.

If you ever drove a 1950 Chevrolet PG in heavy traffic you would understand about "not trusting the brakes"....you know that they will work, no problem there, but can you stop in time with out rear ending the car ahead of you.If you leave too much space in front three cars will pull into it.You can age 10 years just driving thru Chicago on I90 or 294.Also mountain driving can be exciting.The 1949-50 had a hard pedal when new and PG didn't help.
Make sure that none of the wheel cylinder pistons are not froze in the cylinder (rusted tight) - very common on the Huck brake.

I have stocked up on new old stock shoes that I found on Ebay,etc.
Many parts need changing to use the much improved 1951 Bexdix style brakes.Even with those brakes owners complained when the cars were new, thats why the 7/8" M/cyl was used in 1953-54.They have a great feeling pedal.