Lotsacubes

My mechanic asked if I wanted to change to a dual line master cylinder on our '66. I've never experienced a brake failure in 50 years so i said kept it original. Reading about folks doing the dual conversion has me wondering if I screwed up. I just didn't consider it much of a safety risk. Am I wrong? Thx

MOXIE62

Single line fine with me. Have had, and still have, many old cars with only 1 line, no problem.

jim lockwood

If everything in your brake system is corrosion free and in good condition, a single circuit system will work just fine. I haven't felt compelled to convert any of my cars to dual circuit systems and I have experienced brake failure.

GTOguy

My experience too. Last time was 1984 when a 19 year old front brake hose on my '65 GTO blew and I lost all my fluid. Light traffic, a cool head, downshifting the manual gearbox, and light use of the parking brake got me through. The replacement hose is still on the car.....yikes.....35 years later? I may be doing rubber hoses in the near future!! Single doesn't have the back up safety that a dual system has, but is very safe IF IT IS WELL MAINTAINED!

Nowhere Man

My first car I had a duel M/C that failed on me going down a hill. So after that I was sold on them. But that car sat for a few years before I put it on the road. But for a toy car that won’t see many miles and if it’s all up to pair I don’t see a problem

Mike6811

Is jumping out of an airplane without a reserve chute much of a safety risk?

GTOguy

Is leaving the safety of your house and driving a car without a crumple zone, shoulder harness, ABS computer, or airbag much of a safety risk?

Frankie the Fink

Single master cylinders are why God created emergency brakes...

Seriously, my 61 I drove like crazy for 10 years had a single master cylinder as does my 63, and, many, many cars before that...

If you are careful about maintenance and "tuned in" to how your car behaves you should have plenty of warning that something is wrong before the worst can happen... It also helps to always brake early and not tailgate like the majority of dolts driving around today - just in case.

I did put a dual master cylinder and front disc brakes on my early Mustangs....
Do it if it makes you feel better...

Avispa

GTO Guy pretty well spelled it out. Single circuit brakes aren't much more of a safety risk than all the other 50+ year old death trap shortcomings. The solid steering column comes to mind right away.

And I'm about ready to mount a rear facing weapon of some kind to deal with Frankie's tailgaters.

R66

Unfortunately, the brake system is one of, if not the most, ignored system on a car of any year.

With proper maintenance inspections and practices to verify the condition fo the components, the single master cylinder is just as reliable as the dual, however most people don't worry about brakes until they don't have them anymore and need them desperately.

I lost the brakes on a 64 El Camino and used the E-brake to slow it down. My wife lost the brakes on a 57 BelAir and ground the parking pall down in the power glide (what's a E-brake?).

I changed on R66 because the single cylinder was seeping slightly at the back and began sucking air making annual bleeding a must. The dual master cylinder is cheaper than the single and I added one piece of line and a couple of fittings and a plug (from the parts shacks) without modifying the existing lines.

One should inspect the brakes and ALL components at least once annually if not more - I am typical driver, I don't look at them until I get a spongy pedal or a squeal. I do check the fluid with every motor oil change.

Ron

Ron

Factoid

The dual circuit on an old car is the fruit jar single line mc and emergency brake. Maintain both and you will be fine. Unfortunately, I know several people with old cars who do not have working or properly adjusted emergency brakes. They are foolish, don’t be foolish.

68hemi

The factory thought it was important and started installing them as early as 1965 on PBs. We have little to no safety items on our old cars and it is a easy inexpensive thing to do. Why take a chance? Many put shoulder belts and head rests on why not some PREVENTATIVE measures?

I put them on my 57.

Frankie the Fink

If I have to turn my classic car cockpit into a "panic room" to enjoy driving it then I'll just leave it in the garage as art work...

MAD IN NC

When restored the 65, left brakes original. If correct why? Car was built to standards

would ya panic if ya bought an older car wo seatbelts ?

Lotsacubes

Good news. Gonna leave her factory. Thanks all.

MikeM

..................You mean like defensive driving and not tailgating?

I'm not opposed to dual master cylinders even though I've had two instances of sudden, total brake failure with them.

Gotta' be careful with using the "emergency" brake too hard. If you slide the rear wheels, good way to go in to a tail spin.

smuggler85

If its a garage queen the original (single) master is fine. I you drive the car a dual master is a no brainer. Relying on the C2 e-brake is a joke, it's barely capable of holding the car on a driveway slope.

Frankie the Fink

Yes, if you don't pay attention to how your car is acting while driving, drive like a moron and don't keep your emergency/parking brake adjusted properly..... By all means get a dual master cylinder, most preferably in a modern BMW or Impala...

SWCDuke

Most hydraulic failures are a result of corrosion because the brake fluid was never changed, and it eventually becomes contaminated with water and other contaminents and the corrosion gremlins have a field day.

The solution is periodic fluid flushes - at least every five years for a car that is not normally driven in inclement weather. If you start with everything new and flush the fluid as above a hydraulic failure is very unlikely, but if the current fluid looks like week old espresso, you are on borrowed time.

Duke

Roger Walling

I have placed safety belts in every car that I have owned since 1957.
I never drive without them securely fastened, Inc in an airplane at all times.

When I was in the Navy, there were a few rough times at sea where I actually strapped myself into my bunk so that I wouldn't fall out in my sleep.

Why risk death, I even went so far as to install a collapsible steering column and a dual cyl. in my 57.