TheSamba.com :: View topic - 356 A 1956 brakes master cylinder like early bus 22 mm

Mon Apr 21, 2008 10:21 am

I didn't have an original master cylinder on my 356 so i don't have size comparison, is the early master cylinder 22mm for a bus the same?
Thanks

Mon Apr 21, 2008 7:02 pm

356 masters are 19mm. 22mm bus cyls are slightly longer, a problem 4 pre a with brake line routing, but not so 4 later models. firmer pedal but more pushing pressure required. t2 masters about 25$ 356 $160. you decide

Mon Apr 21, 2008 8:31 pm

Is the early bugs up to 59 the master cylinder 19 mm?

Mon Apr 21, 2008 9:21 pm

the cars are too valuable to use single circut,get the dual circut kit,best money you can spend

Mon Apr 21, 2008 9:33 pm

are the VW dual master cyl. from around 68 and up 19 mm JD

Mon Apr 21, 2008 10:14 pm

ok. i currently am caretaking/ servicing appox. 200 to 250 356s in the southern ca. area. maybe 50 are used as daily transportation with a handful being driven over 15000 mi. annually. of the 250 less than 20 have dual circuit mc. of the 50 daily drivers i think only one has dual mc. why aren't these other 200+ cars on the side of the road in twisted wreckage? these brake systems, with proper care, annual inspections, and drivers that are aware enough to notice when things BEGIN to fail, have proven to be quite reliable. in my 37+ years of working on these cars i have yet to see ONE catastrophic failure on a 356. plenty on vw though. why? a combination of deferred maintenence and stupidity. i also have seen dual mc systems that were so poorly executed that i would not even drive around the block! dual mc. the way some people talk about these cars, it a wonder how they made it off the dealers parking lot when they were new. while you're at it,why not antilock brakes? wouldn't it be safer ??? air bags collapsible steering inertia reels bla bla bla

Tue Apr 22, 2008 7:50 am

yeah your right,im switching back to single circut.......not! thats really great you have had such great luck,sorry im not willing to trust a single circut. traffic is crazy these days,i also drive these cars very hard. i can tell you i wouldnt drive as hard if i knew i was relying on a single circut.

if your putting together a trailer queen or your one of these guys that tucks his shirt in and acts all hoity toity go for the concourse correct single circut....real driving? dual circut,im just one opinion,so take it as that,just remember when some little kid runs in front of you and you have a cylinder go (pray its not a rear) you will be relying on your possibly wet ebrake.

have fun and stay safe out there......or stay clean shaven,spray on your favorite man perfume hop in and drive like a puss. all in fun now

Tue Apr 22, 2008 9:28 am

thank you for validly pointing out that my experience with 356 is due to "such great luck". im sure that traffic is much crazier in metropolitan oregon than down here in rural so cal. next time my 20 or 30 friends go on a 3 or 4 hundred mile drive, frequently redlining in top gear,we will be sure to remember that we aren't "real driving". everyone is entitled to an opinion. dual circuits are fine. i guess only a "puss" would rely on a single. btw, i have yet to see a "cylinder go" on any car without leaking first.

Tue Apr 22, 2008 9:33 pm

i was'nt to clear on my last post about master cyl size but are vw 68 up i believe dual master cyl 19 mm same as 58 356 single mc are they both 19 mm thanks jd

Thu Apr 24, 2008 3:17 pm

i am sorry to be so slow to reply, but i am on a road trip. 68 up m/c are indeed 19mm but they are even longer than the pre 67 type II! connecting the long line to the rear can be a problem (too short!). they also used remote fluid reservoirs, although late 60's, ealy 70's bmw, benz, rabbit' etc, direct mount reservoirs can be fitted on some companies m/s, if the spacing and grommets are compatible. still a nuisance to check the fluid level though but i hate drilling holes in these wonderful survivors from the past.

Thu Apr 24, 2008 3:21 pm

i am refering to type I 68+ m/c as being 19mm, of course.

Fri Apr 25, 2008 9:01 am

i hate to but in on this agin but i would like to put a duel m/c on my 58 cab. i see no problem with a single m/c if properly maintained i would just like to go duel so what year vw should i look for that the rear line will fit if its going to be a hasel to install i will use a single any info will be greatly apprecated thanks jd

Fri Apr 25, 2008 9:30 am

the bus conversion is pretty straightforward,you use the 68-79 bus master with a early rabbit resivour and an adapter (cp1 or wolfgang) its a nonhack upgrade. the porsche conversion is doable without drilling into the poor devil and truth be told if i had a perfect low milage or concourse car i wouldnt drill any holes in it. but the porsches were often upgraded in "the day" with all kinds of mods,it was a sportscar that alot of folks raced on tracks modifying all kinds of stuff. im a firm believer in "if it was done in the era its acceptable to run today/keeping with its living theme"

Fri Apr 25, 2008 10:20 am

i have not seen or used the 68 up bus (22.2mm) on 356. could you post a picture of one installed? again, this large size bore requires more pedal pressure to effect the same stopping power. a few people have found this unacceptable. the type I 68 up is 19mm, the same size as 356 and no adaptor for the reservoir is required. i think zimm's in dallas? texas sells a kit of some sort, using type I, although i do not know the contents. i come up with my own conversion parts when needed. be aware that generally there are going to be some "hassle to install" any time you modify/ deviate from factory spec.

Fri Apr 25, 2008 7:39 pm

whoops,for some reason i thought he was asking for a bus conversion kit,wrong forum sorry