Honing master and slave cylinders

[Lukens]

I pulled brake, clutch, and the slave cylinders today. VERY light markings in one.
Anyone ever use Harbor Freight's hone?
And yes, I know their tools aren't Snap-On, but I'll admit to using them.

 

[Tim Tucker]

Never used a harbor freight hone. I just did my masters and clutch slave. I used flex-hone products. They're rather cheap. I used this one: https://www.amazon.com/FLEX-HONE-TOOL-BC18M24-Flexible-Dia-18mm/dp/B00869WE38 on the .70 masters of my TR4.
Tim

 

[Lukens]

We used to call those "dingle berry" hones. I've used them on some huge (12 inch) bores.

 

[waltesefalcon]

I wouldn't use a dingleberry on a master or wheel cylinder. As far as the harbor freight hone goes I can't see a reason it wouldn't do the job. It might just not last long enough to do the job again.

 

[HerronScott]

I've used that style on TR4A and Spitfire master, slave and wheel cylinders (as well as RX-7, 626 and Miata hydraulic cylinders as well). NAPA version that's now 25 years old.

Scott

 

[tlthorne]

Boy thinking back to my high school auto shop teacher saying those dingle berry hones were for deglazing, not cleaning up bores. Still have my 1974-5 ammco hone, (bought extra stones for it years ago) 25$ here https://www.ebay.com/itm/Ammco-1650-Brake-Cylinder-Hone-/160881528102 w/free shipping (not affiliated anyway with ammco or the seller, just dislike hf crap for attempting to burn my workshop down)

 

[waltesefalcon]

I still have my old Ammco hone too, that thing is probably older than I am, it was my father's before it was mine.

 

[NutmegCT]

Resurrecting an old topic ...

I'm about to hone some drum brake wheel cylinders. Removed the internals, cleaned with brake fluid, and find some minor "bumps" on the cylinder wall.

Do I lightly hone (3-arm on a variable speed drill) just until the bumps are gone and it "feels" smooth? Or am I supposed to end with a "shiny reflective" surface like chrome? or ...

Would appreciate some guidance on what the results of the honing should look like.
Thanks.

 

[CJD]

What kind of finish you can get depends on the coarseness of the stones you use. To get a mirror finish you have to finish with cork and compound. Most stones are coarse enough to clean up the bore, but too coarse to polish.

For engine cylinders, you want some roughness to break in the rings. On bores that take rubber seals, like all the brake components, you want them as smooth as you can get them.

Also, the cylinders are not expensive, so don't spend too much time on them.