master cylinder

1955 studebaker commander
v8
3 on the tree

so we found the master cylinder which is under the floor of the driver's side.
our question is that the brake pedal is still really loose and wondering if the master brake cylinder needs to be replaced or could it be a broken brake line?
he also said something about the proportioning valve.

any help on this would be great, maybe just needs to be fiddled around with some more as well.

lau

[GTtim]

Do you mean that the pedal is loose and wobbles side to side, or do you mean that it goes to the floor when pushed. The former would mean a loose attachment at the frame where the pedal pivots, the later would indicate some kind of hydraulic problem.

Tim K.
'64 R2 GT Hawk

[psycho_666]

the pedal pushes all the way to the floor like they're no brakes.

[whacker]

If this is the stock master cylinder, it has no proportioning valve. This is a single circuit system, and brake proportioning is handled by the sizing of the wheel cylinders. If the stock master cylinder can be rebuilt, the rebuild kits are very available from about any Studebaker vendor. If you need a new master cylinder, it is still available for around $65.00 or so, the interchange is for a Jeep CJ2 thru CJ6, also used on several models of Clark fork lifts. If you do have a broken brake line with this type of system, you have no brakes. I recommend that all the brake lines be replaced if they are original, also the rubber hoses. Many people prefer to upgrade the brakes to a dual circuit system, but it really isn't nessessary if your stock system is well taken care of.