1958 Cadillac Power Brakes: Bendix v. Delco Moraine

1958 Cadillacs came with 2 different power brake units. Some got Bendix and others got Delco Moraine. They look very similar and mount on the car in the exact same manner. Their performance characteristics were designed to be the same, with the booster supplying 65% of the force to the hydraulic system. But internally, they are very different. This video goes through a tear down and rebuild of both. I am not an expert, so if anything I say in here is confusing or wrong, please post questions and corrections in the comments, as I want this to be as accurate as possible.
When the brakes are released, atmospheric pressure is allowed to fill both sides of the piston. When the brakes are being applied, vacuum draws air out of the vacuum chamber (above the piston) to make it easier to push the piston up and fluid out to the wheels. When the pedal is held at a particular level, both vacuum and atmosphere are cut off from the vacuum chamber. When the pedal is released, atmospheric pressure is again allowed in the vacuum chamber and the main spring pushes the piston back down. They have a reaction system to make sure it isn't too easy to push the pedal down. This is what makes it is so the driver has to supply 35% of the force.
Bendix and Delco Moraine control all of these things in very different ways.

[@DOCCHARGER69]

Bonjour et merci pour cette vidéo des deux systèmes je suis de France et c’est pas très facile car je parle pas l’américain mais sur la vidéo ont peut mettre des sous titre en français je refais un Delco Moraine j’ai cette Cadillac 1958 coupe de ville depuis 1978 J’ai acheté le kit chez Caddy Daddy pas d’explication sauf les photos des schémas en plus les pièces bien rangé sont tombé a terre et j’ai perdu une rondelle fine du maitre cylindre que j’ai pu remplacé grâce a votre vidéo je n’ai pas encore remonté sur l’auto mais je vous dirai quand çà fonctionnera encore merci très bien cette vidéo Hello and thank you for this video of the two systems I am from France and it is not very easy because I do not speak American but on the video we can put subtitles in French I am redoing a Delco Moraine I have this Cadillac 1958 coupe de ville since 1978 I bought the kit at Caddy Daddy no explanation except the photos of the diagrams in addition the tidy parts fell to the ground and I lost a thin washer from the master cylinder that I was able to replace thanks to your video I haven't got back on the car yet but I'll let you know when it works again thank you so much for this video

[@brianandcindy1]

I am glad the video was helpful!

[@tonykurosu6546]

This is a great video. I'm curious where you sourced the air valve shims.

[@brianandcindy1]

Thanks. I got them from McMaster-Carr. Web site is mcmaster dot com.

[@tonykurosu6546]

@@brianandcindy1 Thank you!

[@lindabranch-h7d]

Where did you purchase the Bendix Diaphragm & gasket for the 58 Cadillac 60 Special ? We are have a really difficult finding one for the 58. Thanks

[@brianandcindy1]

@lindabranch-h7d I bought a Bendix core and a regular kit from ebay, so I didn't get a new diaphragm. Mine works except for that warped piece mentioned in the video, so you could probably build a fully functional unit with the two.

[@cesarescamilla8092]

Could you rebuild my delco on a 56 Cadillac?

[@brianandcindy1]

I'm not really an expert. You'd have much better results from someone like whitepost.

[@SamuelLineberger-or7go]

Are they interchangeable

[@brianandcindy1]

Yes. Either one bolts right in and hooks up the same.

[@SamuelLineberger-or7go]

@brianandcindy1 do you build this unit and if so how much

[@brianandcindy1]

@@SamuelLineberger-or7go I could if it isn't rusted much, but you would be much better off with a professional build, which could offer you a lifetime warranty. Whitepost gets excellent ratings.