Master Cylinder/Booster Question for "62 Catalina
 

Got a few brake issues on my ‘62 Catalina that needs help from this forum:
1) Power brake pedal started to feel different the other day & soon began to “hiss” when applying the brakes. Pedal does not pump up with engine off and can hear air escaping while doing that. Have a hard pedal now as the brakes work fine in “manual” operation however. Guess the Delco Moraine booster has an internal leak and needs a rebuild or replacement. Any ideas on where to find one? Also wondered what is the usual failure mode?
2) Since I need to pull the booster now would be a good time to convert to a dual master cylinder & split the lines. Anyone have a source or part number? Planning to keep the drums at this time. Appreciate your help!

Rock Auto lists a brake booster/master cylinder assembly, you'll have to look at the picture to see if it's a Moraine or Bendix booster. However, it is a single master.

I used a master cylinder from a 1967 Catalina on my 1963 with good results but I dont know if it has the same pushrod depth as 1962.

One thing you could do just to verify your failure situation is check the metal vacuum canister. These old units had a secondary vacuum storage container on top of the left inner fender. It's possible it has rusted out and has a hole in it rather than the booster itself. If you look at the rear of the booster you will see a T connector. One end gets manifold vacuum from the engine, the other goes to the vacuum container. Take the hose off at the T to the canister and cap it. Then start the engine and see how it sounds and how the booster feels. If it's the same, the booster is at fault. If it's better, the canister has rusted out. Also verify the hose from the engine to that T for leaks. If you want to go dual MC, that's a different situation. You would probably want to change the booster and MC and do away with the extra canister. Good luck.

I have a similar problem, but the diaphram on my 61 bonny whistles until you hit the brakes. Brakes work OK, but I would like to do what you want to do. Can not find out what will replace the old booster. I would relly appreciate help here.

I checked my cannister and line, they are OK. so I know it is the booster.For safety sake I agree about going to a dual MC. I see them for sale, but I don't know which ones fit.

I just built a 62 Catalina for customer used booster master assembly from master power brakes fit and worked perfectly car stop great and has a nice pedal feel

Here is a summary of what I have found as options for the '62;

1) Rock Auto will send the old unit directly to Prior Automotive in Dallas, Texas to be reconditioned. Talked to the guys there who said that RA gets a 50% discount so best to go through them rather than direct to Prior. Lastest cost was $204. Good call Stuart!

2) White Post can do the restoration for just $445 plus shipping. They will do both the master & booster to OE condition with a 2 week turnaround.

3) Auto City has the complete disk brake conversion that includes a new master /booster for only $650. Master Power Brake has a similar kit but for $1029. Quite a difference in price! Did not research more as I want to retain the front drums.

4) Kanter does not carry anything for this car.

5) Steve at BrakeBoosters.com no longer does the '62 but only '64 & up for $399.

6) Master Power Brake has a new dual master & booster for $397 + shipping.

Since I want the dual cylinder I am going that way. Plus Richie has confirmed the product. Just need to either replace the OE junction block from a 4-port 7/16" part to a 3-port or plug the rear port along with running the rear line direct.

Kanter does have a replacement master cylinder listed, as well as a disk brake conversion kit that includes a master cylinder and a booster. They do not appear to list a replacement booster all by itself.

Not familiar with 62's......I am assuming booster is different than 61?

If you have a Bendix brake system the same part number is used for 1961 and 1962, but for some reason there are different part numbers for each year if you have a Moraine brake system.

[QUOTE=Stuart;6034463]If you have a Bendix brake system the same part number is used for 1961 and 1962, but for some reason there are different part numbers for each year if you have a Moraine brake system.[/QUOTE

Ok thanks.....and the Bendix is the stop sign one,right?

I'm not sure what you mean by the stop sign one...Bendix and Moraine were two suppliers of power brake systems back then, they function the same but the boosters do have some detail differences. I don't know why they used two suppliers, or why one car may have a Bendix and another may have a Moraine; it could have depended on what assembly plant built the car, or it could have been a early production / late production thing.

Received the new master cylinder/booster from Master Power the other day then pulled the OE Moraine unit out for comparison. Surprised that the firewall mounting studs & pedal rod are so long. Sent these photos to MPB to confirm that I had the correct unit. They said that the unit is OK, just cut the rods as needed. Comments?

Looks like the same units I put on my 61 Catalina. I bought my booster from Speedway. It's an 8" dual diaphragm like the HD unit Pontiac offered. Bought the master from Rock Auto. Had to do a little grinding to make the studs fit the old pattern in the firewall, but not much. Brakes are so much better you would think I put discs on it.

It looks like the new unit will probably work when the mounting studs are cut to length and the pushrod situation dealt with. I can tell you the wing nut cap master cylinder you have is rare and highly desired by people trying to keep their old car stock looking. Don't throw that away. Someone would want to rebuild it/restore it. Even to the extent of sleving the bore if it's really rough. Very hard to find those now.

Master and booster
 

here are my pics.

Looks nice. I think from the pics you kept the secondary vacuum reservoir on the left inner fender? Do they recommend using it with the new booster? I don't see why it would hurt anything, just more stored vacuum for an extra boosted stop if the engine stalled , I guess. Just curious.

I also have AC. Works much better

That makes perfect sense. All vacuum AC controls. It would probably divert to defrost on heavy acceleration without the reservoir. A 61 with factory AC and a convertible! Rare indeed. Very nice.

My first car with AC was a 62 Catalina/Ventura in 1963. My girlfriend had a 61 Ventura Sport Coupe with AC. When we got married we kept hers. While I was in Nam the Slim Jim died and she had no money to fix it so she sold it. 45 years later we found another one we could afford. A 61 vert. It had no AC so I bought one complete from Indiana Pontiacs and installed it. Had to replace the evaporator, compressor and hoses. Also put in a Powermaster generator. Works great

I updated my 64 with a 1967 Bonneville master. Brake performance was best at that point, my car did have the 8 lugs. After doing the dual master swap I swapped the discs in and sold all the 8 lugs. I regret doing that to this day but I thought I was doing the right thing with the discs. My car stopped best with that 1967 dual master and those 8 lug drums I bought from Franks. I had them cut with the wheels torqued down to them and marked so those wheels stayed with that drum.

Porterfield makes the brake shoes you want to use, iron or 8 lug..

I would call Kanter and ask for Joe the brake guy. I was there today picking up a new brake booster for my ‘63 Catalina. It has a delco moraine unit and they had one. Cost was $199 for the rebuild and $100 core deposit which is refunded when you return your core.

Brief update on the brakes for the '62 Catalina:
- Installed the new dual master cylinder & booster from Master Power Brake, P/N BM17015-4.
- Had to cut the mounting studs & pedal rod to fit the master cylinder properly.
- Replaced most of the brake lines with the Cu/Ni material. Great product, easy to bend & do the double flares.
- Kept the front distribution block & plugged the port going to the rear. NAPA had the correct adapters for the two different thread sizes on the master cylinder along with the right plug for the block.
- Adjusted pedal height to ~6" from the floor.
- Car stops fine & took a few photos.

Thanks for all the good feedback!