Wednesday, July 18, 2012

1999 Cushman master cylinder replacement .


Our Gardeners truckster had lost it brakes . Usually it's a leaking wheel cylinder . After topping up the brake fluid and pumping the brakes I couldn't see any leaks . I did notice the master cylinder leaking a little and figured it was by passing fluid internally . Over all a pretty easy job . Biggest part was bleeding the brakes afterwards .



 Master cylinder is in a easy location to the right of the steering wheel . The reservoir is in a remote location under the engine bonnet .
 Surprisingly it wasn't to expensive for the new part and was in stock at out dealer at Eastern Turf .
 I started of by draining the reservoir by removing the rubber hoses on top of the master cylinder , then I loosened the lines with a flare nut wrench . The pick above shows to loosen the nut off the bolt , If you try to take the bolt side off you may wind up stripping the head . Remove the plate that locks the brake pedal shaft in place .
 I just used a pair of vise grips and turned it as your pulling it out . Hopefully it's not seized . Once the pedal is out of the way you can remove the 2 bolts holding the part on the brake pedal plate .  
 The pedal should pull out of the master cylinder and drop out .
 Just finishing removing the 2 brake lines .
I see this may not be the first time it has been changed . 2 different bolts holding the part in .  

 On installation I hooked the rubber hose up first and then the brake lines . It is easier to do it this way before you mount the new part in place . Gives you a little more wiggle room to get the lines threaded on .

 I also cleaned up and put never seize on the shaft that holds the pedal in place . Before you start bleeding the brakes top up brake reservoir . Always bleed brakes from the wheel cylinder that is the furthest away from the master cylinder . In this case Right rear .. left rear...right front ...left front .Work your way around till the air is all out . You may need a helper for this or you can put a line on the bleeder screw into a small jar partially filled with brake fluid and then you can open the line and pump brakes till the air is all out . Bear in mind that you will have to keep an eye on reservoir level and keep it topped up .




Here is a pick of how the pedal shaft is locked in place . 


12 comments:

  1. How did you remove the two bolts holding the master cylinder on? Do you know what size the two bolts should be?

    Thanks

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  2. Pretty sure their 1/2 ( wrench size) .on vacation at the moment. If they don't come off from underneath they might be accessible from the panel under hood. Been a while can't remember for sure. Get back to me next week if your still having an issue.

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  3. Pretty sure their 1/2 ( wrench size) .on vacation at the moment. If they don't come off from underneath they might be accessible from the panel under hood. Been a while can't remember for sure. Get back to me next week if your still having an issue.

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  4. Thanks for the information, I will give that a try!

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  5. Did you bench bleed the master cylinder prior to installation?? I notice the cylinder I received does not have a cover that can be removed and filled with fluid like on my '85 Chevy I did last year. Can you please advise?

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  6. Sir, I just came across your Blog. I have a 1999 truckster with no brakes and am getting ready to replace the master cylinder this week. I realize this post is several years old, but I was quoted $100 for the master cylinder and thought that pretty high. May I ask what it was when you purchased.

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    Replies
    1. Sounds about right . I think around 70 $ Canadian back then

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    2. $100 is ridiculous! Google master cylinders and find one that matches. The bore won't matter as long as the mounting bolts match up. I paid $45 for a new master cylinder for my Truckster but another seller was selling the exact same one for $105. It pays to shop around.

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  7. Any suggestions on how to bench bleed the master cylinder? I am not sure how to proceed since the reservoir is under the hood and not directly on the master cylinder.

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    Replies
    1. You might be able to use a vac pump to pull fluid in . Pretty mine bleed ok through wheel cylinders . You could make up a line and run to reservoir. I have a hand pump vac pressure gauge

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  8. The brake master cylinder on a 1999 truckster like this one is the same as old vw beetle. They are super cheap. Like 28 dollars on Amazon. The bolts take a 10 mm socket and are hard to get out and in due to clearance issues.

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