Front brakes for a 1963 car

[Miguel Parot]

Hello everybody,

I need to change my front brakes, as the linings are used and the cylinders are out of order.

See picture attached of what one full set looks like.

I am in search of 2 sets comprising each :

- 2 brake shoes fitted with their brand new (or not much used) lining
- 2 cylinders. Each cylinder being equipped with a dented wheel to adjust each brake shoe.
- 1 metal pipe to link between each cylinder
- The corresponding springs

If I find exactly the same cylinders, I will be able to use the existing pipes and springs.

As to the brake shoes, I can also have them re-lined locally, here in my home town.

The real problem is to find exactly the same cylinders.

Any idea of where and whom I could get them from ?

Many thanks for your kind assistance.

Miguel

Attachments:

[Lee Hedges]

There are several different styles of front brakes for the T3/T34. There's one for early-1962's, early-1962 to 1963, 1964, & 1965. The wheel cylinders are the most difficult to find these days. But you need to be sure which style of cylinders you're needing.

Checking theSamba can sometimes result in finding them. And sometimes asking the T34 owners for spares works as well.

You'll need to reuse the pipe joining the cylinders as well as all the other hardware.

If you can't find new cylinders then some owners have taken their old ones to a specialists shop that hones-out the inside, inserts a new sleeve, then puts it back together.

[Miguel Parot]

Hi Lee
and thank you for your kind advice.
I am also in touch with Franck who is very helpful.
I case I would not be able to find the cylinders, he has given me an address here in France of a company that is able to restore these parts.
For the time being I keep searching.
Will keep you posted.

[Lee Hedges]

Here's what I found inside the T34 Parts List book:

The early-1962 (from VIN #0 027 850) through 1963 (to VIN #0 221 974) used the A-series of Type 3 wheel cylinders. The left side part number is #311 611 061A and the right side part number is #311 611 062A. These are 22.2mm bore cylinders.

The early-1962 T3/34's (from the beginning of production through VIN #0 027 849, late-March 1962) used the 20.64mm bore wheel cylinders with no letter designation on their part numbers.

Here's a pair of A-series cylinders on theSamba for US$100.
www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1583507

And here's a used set (4) for US$50 that you can send off to be rebuilt while your original ones are still on your T34.
www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1585548

[Miguel Parot]

Thanks a lot Lee !
These are indeed the cylinders I need.
Will let you know the end of the story.

[Scott Brdlik]

You can check with this company in Germany- they don't have prices listed for these cylinders but the shipping might be less. They also carry a lot of other T34/T3 items:

www.vintagecarparts.de/artikel.php?session_id=&set_shop=2&set_wg=27&set_markwg=84;82;27&set_artnr=311611062063

[Miguel Parot]

That's very kind Scott.
I have already bought parts from this site.
These cylinders are exactly those I need, and they look in great condition.
Brand new, perhaps repro ? But if they work...
I will investigate.

Thanks a lot, Scott

[Miguel Parot]

Vintage Car Parts in Offenburg, Germany (Herr Rüdiger Huber) was asking 120 Euros for one cylinder.
Most cylinders offered on various sites are around 70 / 75 Euros. Including some NOS pieces, VW or FAG.

I declined this opportunity and sent my 4 cylinders to a workshop sprcializing in the restauration of brakes parts located in the south of France. If my cylinders are not dead, he will restore them at a cost a of 30 Euros each.

AS to the linings, the guy in my hometown was not serious enough.
So I sent the 4 brakeshoes to another workshop, in central France. They only redo linings for brake shoes and clutch disks. They will undo the current used linings, clean the brake shoes with a special product, paint them with a special laque, then glue the linings with a special German chemical glue. The linings will be of a more tender kind than the original ones, for a better braking power and a better braking confort as well.
Cost for the 4 linings : 42 Euros.

Springs and pipes are OK and will be re-used.

Total cost for a full set of new front brakes :
- 4 linings : 42 Euros (55 USD)
- 4 cylinders : 120 Euros (165 USD)
Total : 162 Euros. (220 USD)

(I do not take into account the 40 Euros of inland shipping, which are supported by my company...)

That's quite reasonable.

I will post photos of the renovated stuff when it comes back.

[Miguel Parot]

The parts have now come back

1/ Brakeshoes :



2/ Cylinders :



These cylinders are period ! 1963, just over 50 years...
Very well restored. The cylinders were actually not so badly damaged, it has not been necessary to hone them out, just neatly clean them, and the inner parts, using ultra-sound technique.

3/ Before / After :



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No comment !

I remind the reasonable cost for such a renovation of parts, that I mentioned on my previous post (see above)

- 10,50 Euros (14 USD) for relining one brake shoe
- 30,00 Euros (40 USD) for one cylinder, when NOS (or sometimes used) cylinders are for sale on the Samba or other merchant sites at a price for a single unit anywhere between 70 and 120 Euros (95 to 165 USD), + shipping.

I wish you a pleasant week-end.

PS : I will be tomorrow in Valence (south of the city of Lyon)attending the biggest AC VW swap-meet organised each year in France.

[Lee Hedges]

Thank you for sharing your brake restoration work & costs! It's a great way for owners to see that it's sometimes better to recycle/refurbish 50 year old parts rather than replace them with new ones. Well done, Miguel!