One of the advantages of having a heated garage is that in the winter the wheel cylinders do not get below freezing with the resultant moisture with condensation. The garage also stays very dry inside. I have not replaced a wheel cylinder on any of my cars in over 10 years. They also get driven lots in the summer.

I had to replace the wheel cylinders on my 55 Plymouth numerous times. Seems they always rusted. I was told it is because the car is not driven enough, and the moisture builds up and they rust. Last time I competely flushed the entire system and filled it with synthetic brake fluid. I was told it doesn't attract moisture like conventional brake fluid. It has been four years and so far so good.

I've got Bernbaum wheel cylinders on all four corners of my 41.  Replaced them all about 7 years ago, back when I thought "if I could just get it to run and stop".  Seven years into the restoration later I had one of the wheel cylinders start to leak.  Bought a rebuild kit at NAPA and a wheel cylinder hone from Harbor Freight and was able to fix it in an evening.  I've bought MANY parts from Bernbaum without issue.  Also Lindsay McConnell is a great resource for 41 Plymouth parts.  I've purchased from both on several occasions. 

You were smart not sending your old parts. At least the old part is rebuildable. What would you have done if the orignal part got lost in the mail, or they tried to match something up, didn't have what you needed and you never got your old part back.
As the old phrase goes, a picture is worth a thousand words.

Quote from: Doran Johnson on July 05, 2010, 09:24:38 AM
I was talking "Plymouth" with some guys at an AACA meet in Louisville this past weekend and during the conversation learned that PlyDo is no longer doing business.  As you probably already know, the fellow that owned and operated that business passed away a couple of years ago.  Evidently, there was no one in line to take over.

Originally I had a hard time getting a hold of PLYDO...but a gentlemen did answer the phone last week. He said he had a bunch of NOS stuff...but doesn't know exactly what he has. He requested that I send one of my wheel cylinders to him and I was obviously very reluctant to do so. I then said how about I send you some photos of them....He then said ok but he didn't have a business e-mail...He then put his girlfriend on the phone and she gave me her own personal e-mail. I sent photos to her address immediately but I have not heard anything back yet. So...there is someone at the end of that phone number for PLYDO (304-475-3245) but not quite sure how much of a business it still is...Thanks for the tip on Sierra Specialties TodFitch...will consider contacting them. Since I last posted I did contact Hagen's Auto Parts in Puyallup, WA. They apparently have front cylinders for my 41....SS sleeved for $55.00 + $25.00 core. They have cores on hand and are rebuilding them for me. Its up to me whether or not I want to send them my cylinders for the 25.00 core refund. I will definitely wait until I have the new ones in my hands...I will update this post when I get them to let you all know how this deal goes. Sounds awfully good doesn't it?   

Doran-

Thanks for the info about Ply-Do.

Pat O'Connor

I was talking "Plymouth" with some guys at an AACA meet in Louisville this past weekend and during the conversation learned that PlyDo is no longer doing business.  As you probably already know, the fellow that owned and operated that business passed away a couple of years ago.  Evidently, there was no one in line to take over.

I just checked on-line for Sierra Specialties and wheel cylinder resleeving was  a lot cheaper than prices mentioned earlier. http://www.brakecylinder.com/prices2009.htm This is definitely the way to go and you never have to worry about the pitting issue again. Hope this helps. Thanks for the heads-up, Tod.

This might help some: http://www.ply33.com/Parts/group5#5-64-01 If you find the information there incorrect or that it could be added to let me know and I'll up date it.

I had my original master and a couple of wheel cylinders sleeved by Sierra Specialty in California. Came back as works of art. Absolutely beautiful. Contact information for them is on the vendor page on the above web site's parts section.

You might check with NAPA.  Beacuse "you never know" what they will have.  I have been supprised in the past.

Well, Thanks very much to RC Drown as has advised me to contact another very nice guy named Dave. Dave informed me that Raybestos WC 17789 Wheel cylinders will fit the 41 Plymouth (40-42). These WC"s are for 53-71 Dodge trucks. A slight modification to the backing plate is necessary according to Dave. The mounting holes have to be slightly elongated. I can handle that! Hope this info. helps others too... I'll follow up here with all the details when I get into it. Parts are available at Napa and other parts houses but will have to order them. A big thanks to RC Drown and Dave!!

Well....I guess I have no choice but to get them sleeved now....Bernbaum and Roberts do not have new cylinders for the 41 (40-42). And PLYDO doesn't answer their phone...either that or it's constantly busy....Pro Antique Auto Parts doesn't have them either...When I talked to Bernbaum and said "Gee no one else has them either" he said "that's because we make 'em!" Hmmmm. Anyways, I'll have to shell out the big $$$$ now and get them re-sleeved. This little project went from $50.00 to hone them and rebuild them myself to $130.00 to get new ones...to $260.00 to get them re-sleeved/rebuilt real quick! What ya gonna do? There's no other option out there at the moment.

Bob

Bob-

Nice looking '41. I've ordered brake drums, a water pump, and brake shoes from Bernbaum over the years and never had a problem.  I attempted to buy used leaf springs from Ply-Do; they never did ship them, so I cancelled the order. I've heard good things about White Post, but have never used them personally. All the above parts were for a '36 Plymouth.

Good luck, whichever way you go,

Pat O'Connor

One great looking '41, thanks for posting the photos

By getting the cylinders resleeved, once they are done, that is basically one less worry you will have.  NOS means they have been sitting around for YEARS and they possibly will be pitted, there are also many that are made outside the USA and quality can be of an issue.....

Also check with Apple Hydraulics to get a price from them if you haven't already, might be worth comparing the prices of each place.

I have done business with Robert's, Bernbaum and other various Plymouth parts vendors, no complaints

Hope this helps,
Bob

I purchased wheel cylinders and a King Pin set from Burnbaum. The parts were shipped the same or next day depending when I called. Had no problems with the parts. The only thing I thought was odd, they still write manual bills and don't keep records. Doing business in the computer age, they are behind in the times.

Here's my ride...Thanks for the quick replies! Hey guys...Only because I'm kind of upside down already with this car, is there a reason that nobody has suggested that I buy from Roberts, PLYDO or Bernbaum? Any personal experience here? Is it that they're Chinese junk??....for roughly $60-65 a piece? I did call Whitehouse...Looks like to resleeve + rebuild both front cylinders would be $240.00 + $20.00 for shipping....and they'd be show quality (which I don't care about) and they'd never pit again (which is certainly a good thing - might be overkill though).

Use the old cylinders but have them sleeved. There are lots of places that do this but the one I have used is White Post Restorations. http://www.whitepost.com/ I had my master cylinder for my '38 done by them and their rates are competiitve and turn around time was excellent. Once sleeved, they will never pit again as they are done with brass or someplaces use stainless steel. At the time, their cost included return shipping. These brakes work well if adjusted correctly and there is no need to go the disc brake conversion route. Hope this helps.

Bob, welcome aboard to a fellow NY'er.  If I were you when it comes to the wheel cylinders, I would contact either Apple Hydraulics or White Post Restorations, as they both resleeve the wheel cylinders at a decent price.

You can also contact Moores Salvage Yard in Rapid City, SD to see if they have a drum for your car, it will be off of an old Plymouth, but should be servicable.

Another thing that I would do, if you haven't already, is purchase the sevice manual for your car.  It is one of the most important help aids that you can have.

Hope this helps and good luck with the '41 and please post some photos when you get a chance,
Bob Drown
Neversink,NY

U need to get a reprint of a service manual - I think Roberts has some.  If u have taken the bottom eccentric bolts out of the backing plate, u will need a manual to get them adjusted.  If u haven't taken them out, leave tthem.  Apple hydraulics may have some wheel cylinders - use the parts numbers on the ones u have.  Hoses come off the shelf at NAPA.  Moore's Salvage in Rapid City will have a new brake drum for you.

Hello all...I'm brand new here. I bought a 1941 Plymouth Special Deluxe a few months ago. Another sob story I'm afraid but I only have myself to blame. I believed the seller that it was a "restored car" and to make a long story short...the car has many issues... namely at the moment, the front brakes. I think I figured out the adjustments...the lower/upper cams  ::) now I have the wheel cylinders out. I bought rebuild kits + a hone before I removed them...but now that I have them out and cleaned up I really think there's too much pitting inside to try to save them. Lots and lots of little pits...a ran a scribe across them and they're deep enough "to catch" the scribe. Now I'm taking a step back and rethinking my plan of attack. Do I spend the $$ for new wheel cylinders or try to look into finding a disc brake conversion? My hoses are bad too + my left drum has a stripped left handed thread on it...so there's only 4 lugbolts holding the wheel on. It has to be the left one! >:( TO make matters worse..I can't get a hold of PLYDO....busy all the time...Robert's is out of 41 Ply. wheel cylinders...and Bernbaum seems to be the only one that has 'em...What I'm reading about him though...Well, I'm not sure I want to order from him if I can help it. Any advice for the newbie here? Thanks to all...and glad to be here..

Bob from Rochester, NY