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1955-72 Adjustable Brake Proportioning Valve

When a dual brake master cylinder is installed with disc or drum brakes, a valve must be installed. The brake bias (pressure) must be set so the car brakes evenly and stops safely. With a dual brake master cylinder and drum brakes or standard size disc brakes with 10" or 11" rotors, a GM-style five-valve like our PIN 20-32 works fine. If a disc brake kit is installed that uses large diameter rotors (12" or 13''), the rear brake may need to be reduced so that the rear brakes do not lock up before the front brakes. The only way to reduce brake is to install an adjustable valve inline on the brake line that feeds the rear brakes. The adjustable valve is used by itself and not in conjunction with the GM-style valve.

CCI offers a brake line kit PIN 20-138 that includes the correct fittings and lines to connect a dual brake master cylinder to an adjustable valve and from the valve to the rear brakes, as well as the brake lines from the master cylinder to the left and right front brakes. A complete booster-dual master cylinder-adjustable valve and line kit for use with disc or drum brakes is also available as PIN 20-135.

Parts List

  • 57-132392-1 1955-64 Brake Adjustable Proportioning Valve Bracket
  • 57-178588-1 1955-72 Adjustable Proportioning Valve Bolt Kit
  • 57-132449-1 1955-57 Rear Brake Adjustable Proportioning Valve
  • 57-132356-1 1955-57 Dual Master Cylinder Line Set With Adjustable Proportioning Valve
  • 49-38 Brake Line Tubing Bender
  • 49-200 Brake Pressure Gauge Kit
  • 57-132353-1 1955-64 Power Booster-Dual Master Cylinder Conversion Kit With Adjusting Proportioning Valve

Tools Needed:

  • 1/2" Wrench
  • 7/16" Wrench
  • 9/16" Wrench

Time Frame: 3 Hours

Image 1:

A dual master cylinder has two outlets. If an adjustable valve is going to be used, the front of the master cylinder will be used for the front brakes, and the rear will be used for the rear brakes.

Image 2:

The adjustable valve bracket PIN 20-35 can be used with power brakes or manual brakes. The valve bracket is held in place with the two master cylinder mounting studs.

Image 3:

The adjustable valve PIN 20-87 has two ports, one marked "in" and one marked "out." The 90-degree fitting installs in the port marked "in" facing the adjusting knob. The straight fitting installs in the port marked "out."

Image 4:

The valve is secured to the valve bracket with two 1/4" x 1-1/4" bolts, nuts, and lock washers PIN 34-400. Mount the valve with the adjusting knob facing upward and the inlet facing to the front of the master cylinder.

Image 5:

The brake line set PIN 20-138 includes a short 90-degree 1/4" brake line that connects the rear of the master cylinder to the inlet side of the valve.

Image 6:

The brake lines are supplied straight to allow the brake line kit to fit various applications. A 3/16" x 60" line with a 3/16" inverted flare union is supplied to connect the outlet on the valve to the factory brake line on the side of the car. Using a tubing bender like PIN 49-38, bend the brake line so that it is routed across the front engine crossmember and connects to the factory rear brake line near the base of the firewall on the side.

Image 7:

A 3/16" x 24" brake line is supplied with a large fitting on one end and a small fitting on the other. This line is for the front brakes. The larger fitting screws into the front of the master cylinder for the front brakes. The line is routed down to just behind the left upper control arm.

Image 8:

A 3/16" inverted flare tee is supplied to use as a junction block to feed the left and right front wheels. Install the tee on the end of the 24" brake line.

Image 9:

A 3/16" x 5" brake line is supplied to connect the 3/16" tee to the left front wheel.

Image 10:

A 3/16" x 50" brake line is supplied to connect the 3/16" tee to the right front wheel. The line can be routed across the front engine crossmember along with the other 3/16" line from the master cylinder.

With everything installed, turn the adjusting knob on the valve all the way counterclockwise. This will open the valve all the way. Bleed the brakes and test drive the car carefully, applying the brakes, making sure the rear brakes do not lock up before the front brakes. If rear brake lockup occurs, some fine-tuning of the valve is needed. Turning the adjusting knob clockwise will decrease the brake pressure to the rear brakes. Adjust the knob until you are satisfied that the front and rear brakes are operating evenly. If you wish, a gauge PIN 49-200 can be used to check the brake pressure at the rear. In most cases, less brake pressure is required at the rear of the car for good even braking.