I have a 1963 Ford B500 bus and in the process of upgrading the brakes to a dual circuit system, I am not able to stop the vehicle. The pedal is firm, but bottoms out in the master cylinder before hitting the pedal stop. It does not move enough fluid to activate the wheel cylinders enough to stop the bus without lots of pumping. The full travel of the piston in the master cylinder is 1", while the full travel of the rod coming out of the booster is 1-1/8" or more before the pedal reaches it's stop. I have installed a Cardone power booster 0338 and a Cardone 10-1393 Remanufactured Brake Master Cylinder. The parts guy where I bought the booster told me that it was for front disc/rear drums, and the master cylinder was for front/rear drums. My bus has drums front and rear. What booster/master cylinder combination can I use to upgrade to a dual circuit system?

 

Did you bench bleed the master cylinder?

 

Did you also bleed the brakes at each wheel?

 

I bench bled the master cylinder and bled each wheel cylinder. All the cylinders, brake line and hoses are new. There is a 10 psi back pressure valve on the rear circuit. There is just not enough fluid getting to the 6 large wheel cylinders to actuate them. The master cylinder is for a standard size truck, not a bus. I was hoping someone could recommend a booster/master cylinder combination suitable for this vehicle.