Replacing Master Cylinder

[1STMP]

I don't think a parking brake is a good backup either.
It's not a normal response so you lose 2 or 3 seconds or more trying to locate the pedal.
And if your brakes do fail and then you only have rear brakes from the parking assembly.
Try stopping from 50mph or more with just the parking brake you will quickly get to the lockup point on the rears and the car will hardly slow down.
Then the rear will try and kick out on one side or the other.
It's a bad feeling. Try it and report back.
People call it an emergency brake but I hope I never have that emergency.

I am in 100% agreement
that the OP should make an
attempt to upgrade his
braking system for safety's
sake. It won't detract
from the cars value, and
certainly could save
someone's life.

 

[YY1]

Welcome, OP, to one of the most uncomfortable, inconvenient jobs ever, and with a poor selection of suitable tools, to boot.

I have better luck using "medium" deep sockets. I've found that standard sockets are too shallow and traditional deep sockets are too long and get hung up on the pedal and linkage.
Stanley makes a set of medium length, and that at least used to be available at wal-mart.

Those, along with several different lengths of extensions and "wobblies" and/or U joints and a fine tooth ratchet will usually get the job done.

 

[Don Frelier]

Disconnect the battery while the door is open for hours, pull the front seat out.
Throw a few moving blankets or outdoor furniture cushions on the floor.
It really helps and it's worth the little bit of extra effort.

 

[YY1]

I've also pulled the bolt from the pedal to MC link to allow the pedal to swing back out of the way.

Be aware the nut is self locking and the contact for the wrench/socket is very shallow.

 

[JJordan1173]

Ohhh lord what a dooozey! Going to give it another go this afternoon. I will report back. Thinking a seat removal may be the right call. Thanks everyone!

 

[Fran Blacker]

If you don't have a wobbly socket take a u-joint and tape it with electricial tape not real tight then wiggle some.

 

[YY1]

Kobalt (and I'm sure others) have extensions with a wobbly/not wobbly end.

Put socket on to first click- wobbly...push to second click- not wobbly.

 

[JJordan1173]

Mission Accomplished. The extentions, uni adapters, and deep sockets did the job. 13mm. The old MC was in terrible shape and should not have been sold to me as is, very unsafe. I got the car from a shop in Ohio who said they had just done a "full brake job". They did put on new drums but didn't bother to check the MC. (Pictured) Just goes to show...

 

[JJordan1173]

Old Master Cylinder

 

[Stonehengeheel]

67 Coronet. Did a total front end rebuild/replacement. Including the dual cylinder MC. Turned out I had been driving on rear brakes only, but it still stopped.