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I'm looking to replace the shot single piston wheel cylinders on my 63 with dual piston cylinders. Is this a simple drop-in conversion? If so, what wheel cylinders should I get? I'm already completely redoing the brakes since it hasn't moved in 40 years and do not have the funds to convert to front discs. I'm just trying to get it back on the road with working brakes.
Sounds like people buy the dual piston wheel cylinders for 1964 and replace them. I would have thought backing plates wouldn't have the right holes to bolt it to but maybe it's exact.
I did a complete brake job on my 63 F-100 and don't remember anything about single piston wheel cylinders. My brakes were typical Bendix units with typical opposed piston wheel cylinders. I got my parts from Rock Auto since it is much more cost effective than the local auto parts chain store. I didn't take any pictures since there was nothing unique or interesting about the brakes, other than I think the hoses were original from 1963.
Can you share what applications got the odd one piston wheel cylinders? My chassis parts catalog illustrations section shows typical two piston setup for 57-63 F-100.
Last edited by 38 coupe; May 20, 2026 at 05:59 AM.
In the thread I posted a link to above @NumberDummy gives the applications. This should take you to his posting. If you disagree, you'll have to take it up with him.
Please appreciate I am not trying to disagree with NumberDummy, he has more experience with Ford parts catalogs than anyone else on this forum. I re-read the Ford Truck Parts Catalog this evening and found the note he referenced, it is only in the text section not in the illustrations section. This is likely a problem of having the large digital catalog that covers many years, I suspect a truck catalog printed in late 1963 would show the odd single piston wheel cylinders in the illustrations. This type of thing is why I have multiple parts catalogs covering the years of the vehicles I am most interested in; the large multi-year catalogs have the last parts that Ford identified for use while the one released that year or very close to it shows the first parts that Ford identified for use. I occasionally get NOS parts very affordably by using the earlier part number from a print catalog when most people only have the digital multi-year catalogs.
The brake shoes on the OP pic have a spots for both pistons - not sure about the wheel cylinder bolt hole pattern, but my 1962 F100 has the two piston cylinders. I think I just ordered from LMC and I don't recall there being any option for one or two piston. My serial number is 251XXX FWIW.
