E122 Manual Disc and Emergency Brakes! Complete System Rebuild! 1956 Chevy Bel Air Restoration

In Episode 122, we reinstall a Classic Performance Products disc brake conversion kit, including new master cylinder, routing new brake lines, replacing all of the cables on the emergency brake system, and everything else that goes into making sure our tri-five stops when we press the WHOA! pedal!
Bill Thomassie
"Christine" 1956 Chevy Bel Air
2-door Sedan Restoration
Music Credits:
All KZbin Standard License
"Greaser" by TrackTribe
• TrackTribe - "Greaser"...
“A Dusty Road” by Dan Lebowitz
• Dan Lebowitz - A Dusty...

[@markfurry2807]

Genuinely laughed out loud when you made reference to the video about the service manuals 😂. None of your videos are boring or bad! They are all great. Loved the trick about the p-brake cable. I usually just get frustrated and break the ears off. Christine just looks more and more amazing with each video. Fantastic job Bill! Your doing it. You'll get her done in time.

[@RestoringChristine1956]

I don't know man, that video on manuals is pretty dry! LOL!

[@rustyrodgarage2686]

Great job Bill,she will be beautiful and driving soon

[@RestoringChristine1956]

I hope so!

[@jessemontgomery60]

Great E-Break trick!

[@RestoringChristine1956]

Thanks! I used that trick to create a separate KZbin Short, which I just uploaded. Let's see how it does!

[@RMINTZELL]

You have a great disposition

[@RestoringChristine1956]

Thanks! All of my frustration is usually off camera so everyone here sees the filtered me! LOL!

[@johnmorris8150]

By the way love the longer videos too

[@RestoringChristine1956]

You know, I did 2 versions of Episode 107, when I painted it. The longer version is over an hour and has more views than the shorter 15 minute version. Go figure!

[@oacumulador]

Good progress

[@RestoringChristine1956]

😎

[@MagaRickn]

Well, month later, and I am watching your video again. ;) All my brakes are done, wife got to take a ride up on the lift, to help me bleed brakes. I used my MityVac tool, no air, but no brake pedal. So adjusted rears out, wife worked the brake pedal, and we have some brakes but not what It should be. Gonna check the master cylinder rod and make sure no problems there. Hope your brakes bleed out good! Thanks for all your videos, it's like having a video library!! :)

[@RestoringChristine1956]

They did! I bled them in a follow-up video.

[@MagaRickn]

@@RestoringChristine1956 I thinking I may have brake pedal rod issues. I used the original brake pedal rod, cleaned it up nice and installed it. But I still am not getting much pedal. More research!

[@RestoringChristine1956]

@MagaRickn If you bleed them alone with a tube on the bleeder screw, whether it's with the vacuum pump or by pumping the pedal, it'll pull in air from around the screw itself. I've fought that before. Another thing I did once was put the calipers on opposite sides, which put the bleeder screw too low to get the air out.

[@MagaRickn]

@@RestoringChristine1956 Will try again. I actually wrapped the brake lines with some teflon tape, just in case. I get nice clear fluid with no air, just cant seem to get a nice high pedal. So, now I'm looking in to brake pedal rod adjustment. :) Thanks for your ideas!

[@DougScriver]

Good job mint 🎉

[@RestoringChristine1956]

Thanks!

[@bigblockkings1031]

Very interesting that your video on this stuff came up when it did. I just finished removing the power brakes on my brothers 48 Chevy coupe and went with manual brakes. I used a master cylinder from a 71 halfton Chevy pickup with the disk front/drum rear. I used those on my 39chevy and my 55 so I know they work. Also glad you showed how the emergency brake cables go since I kinda forgot how they go. I really need to install them back in the 55. Keep up the good work 👏

[@RestoringChristine1956]

When you do a project like this, its always a challenge to 1) keep track of small parts and 2) remember where and how they went. It's not easy!

[@johncornell3665]

You must not be a power brake fan, unless your engine doesnt produce enough vacuum? You should have awesome brakes. Thanks for sharing!

[@johnmorris8150]

U cannot miss dot 3 with dot 5 ok

[@RestoringChristine1956]

She was 100% manual. I bit the bullet and decided I'd be better off with power steering, but I still like the feel of manual brakes and a clutch, at least for this car. It's bad enough I'm putting in A/C, but the number of times I roll with the windows up should be MINIMAL!

[@johnmorris8150]

Mix

[@johncornell3665]

@@RestoringChristine1956 fair enough, car is coming along nicely

[@MagaRickn]

I just got all my brakes finished too! New lines, solid and flex, disc on front, drum on rear, like you. I used a 69 Camaro master cylinder, new, because it is designed for disc/drum also. Got a buddy runs his with no proportioning valve, and stops great. I may have to add one, don't know yet. Good video. Nice length too! Only took a couple adult beverages. My Sunday night matinee. ;)

[@MagaRickn]

By the way, happy Dad's day! ;)

[@RestoringChristine1956]

Thanks and to you!

[@RestoringChristine1956]

I don't know how it would work without one, because the CPP kit automatically came with one. I've never understood why the master cylinder couldn't serve the purpose out of the box without the external part.

[@joewolf4483]

What ... no power brakes ... a box end wrench works too for compressing those cable flare tips ... gettin closer ...

[@RestoringChristine1956]

No power. I'm expecting its going to be enough of an adjustment getting used to having power steering!

[@johnmorris8150]

Hey buddy I used dot 5 brake fluid it’s a silicone based fluid it’s designed for cars that sit a lot won’t hurt your paint if spilled on it it’s dot 5 not dot 5,5 ok if u decide to use it and it won’t draw moisture either

[@bigblockkings1031]

Good info 👍

[@RestoringChristine1956]

After reading your post, I looked for DOT 5 and didn't see it. I ended up using 100% synthetic DOT 3.

[@user-qv7xz1jt6j]

you should have bench blead the master cylinder

[@RestoringChristine1956]

Not before installing it, but I did bench bleed it after I put it on. Check out the next video. That's exactly what I did.