FE-FC Holden Discussion Forum

Hi Team,

After a bit of advice. I have the original wheel cyclinders for the ute. I am working on trying to get the cups and piston out of th front ones at the moment. The will definitely need work and I have read several posts recommending having them sleeved in stainless. I am looking into this and it appear to be around $130 a corner plus postage plus a rubber kit.

I can purchase new wheel cylinders from Rares for $70 for the fronts and $90 for the rears.

So what is the benefit of the stainless sleeves in practical terms over new cylinders and why is it worth spending the extra $; ie, what is the cost benefit argument that has me spedning the extra coin up front?

Thanks in advance for sharing your wisdom.

Cheers n Beers
Craig

When I did it it was $80 per corner so price was comparable. I was suspicious of the quality of the new parts and sleeping offered a long life solution. In retrospect the process was somewhat fraught, taking several attempts to get right. At the time I put that down to the particular supplier but subsequently learned that the process is rather tricky.


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So I take it from your reply, even though the stainless sleeve will not corrode as much over its lifetime, that you don't see a significant long term benefit of one over the other; providing the new ones are maintained.

Regards
Craig

Can’t comment on the new wheel cylinders really Craig. Others will probably say they have found them to be ok.


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I have had lots of trouble with resleeved brake cylinders, mostly leakage between the cyl body and sleeve. I will only use new theses days. Fraze

Thanks Fraze,
Great to hear, I'll shell out for some new ones so at least I am starting with a known quality.

Cheers
Craig

A lesson I learned from Ardiesse - if it’s not a daily, then sleeve it. The cast iron ones, even new, don’t like sitting around, and form a light rust ring at the cup. They then leak - repairable by hone, but annoying.

I did the brakes in Grace’s ute, and took in all four to be sleeved. 6 months later they were leaking again. Pulled them, and found no sleeves. Brake shop apologised - they figured giving me new cylinders would be easier than sleeving. They then sleeved the new ones they had supplied - no more leaks.

Cheers,
Harv

I'm with Harv. Stainless steel sleeves for me.

The Chinese & Indian made new cylinders are quite often very poor quality. If the car sits around they corrode very quickly.

All my oldies have re-sleeved cylinders throughout & I have no dramas at all.

I have heard of re-sleeved cylinders leaking, but that would down to the skill of the tradesman doing the machining. I've never had one leak myself.

Dr Terry

 I have restored 7 FE/FC vehicles over a 30 yr period. All have s/steel inserts in the wheel cylinders. Never had a problem. I guess it comes down to workmanship. Kevin.

I certainly will not use South Glenelg Brake Service again after my experience. As I bled up the resleeved cylinders, the front two were good, but when I started on the rear ones, the first one was leaking, so I took it back. It took them at least two attempts to fix the leak. Then the last one had to go back as well. They used some sort of glue to set the sleeves in place, which I believe is the standard method. I had previously supposed they would be a friction fit, but in any case they were leaking through the hole in the sleeves required to allow pressure and bleed input, out either end between the main body and sleeve. I should have gone straight to Power Brakes SA but they are way across town from me. Since then I went to HR brakes with new wheel cylinders, and haven’t had any problem. I do try and drive my cars weekly though.


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Jill’s is in the Premier State… would recommend Burt Brothers in Fairfield for the resleeving.

Cheers,
Harv