cheaper than genuine. some things are very reasonable genuine though so it pays to ask (the 7/8 button head grease nipples are cheap genuine yet radiator caps not so much). many of these older machines require the part numbers to be converted by adding a zero or 2 to make them six characters for the cat parts site to work. a google search is also often helpful in finding the updated part numbers as cat did continual improvement and still does.

i have found our state dealer hastings deering to be helpful when i was chasing bits for our machine especially if i had a part number.

I replaced all cylinders and hoses on my 212 this summer with Cat parts. they were pricey and I didn't shop around. I had a cylinder pop while operating and didn't want to risk another especially on a hill, plus getting the wheels off and back on is such a pain I just wanted to be sure I had the best and didn't have to do a repeat sometime.

The guys I deal with at Westrac Wollongong here in NSW have been pretty good too.  Finding such obscure parts seemed to be a fun challenge for them!

GreenGiant - That’s good to know that they had the cylinders available, you wouldn’t happen to have the part numbers available would you?  My guy couldn’t find them, only the hoses.

I agree about getting it all done right.  The genuine hoses weren’t cheap, but they were available and guaranteed not to be a problem.

Master cylinder 5B3217
slave cylinders 8D4074
the master cylinder alone was 400 something. but i have no regrets as the grader is very nice and it was such a pain replacing everything, not to mention the safety issue, that i didn't want to cut corners.

Thank you GreenGiant. I really appreciate the part numbers.

Yes the genuine parts aren’t cheap (the flexible brake lines I bought were $180 or so each). But as you say, if you are investing the time and effort then you don’t want to have to re-do the work. The guy I bought my grader from couldn’t understand why I wanted the brakes fixed - since their farm is flat as a pool table and he would just drop the blade! - but it’s hilly where I am so brakes are an absolute must.

I just looked up the cost for those parts and I think the exchange rate is biting

Master cylinder - 5B3217 - $668.87
Slave cylinders - 8D4074 - $346.73

I wish it was only $400!

Cannot say for sure on the smaller 212 but the master cylinder on the model 12 8t graders was standard brake parts like used on trucks of the same era. My uncle redid the brakes on his 12 about 2000 and got all the parts at his favorite auto parts store.

But I understand how it is getting harder to find parts as the computer system is all about looking at model and year at the auto parts stores.

Thank you Ray54, that's good to know.  If I have to replace the cylinders then I'll see if there are parts I can substitute before going down the OEM route.

yes try a brake service that has older staff they are usually more willing to look up obscure stuff. and provided that castings are good you can resleeve them and fit new rubbers.
they might just need a hone depends if their pitted or not. i recently redid some early holden wheel cyl they only needed a hone and new rubbers work perfectly.

Trainzkid88 - thankfully I'm not in too much of a rush, so with a bit of luck I may be able to go the reconditioning route (and having seen the price of OEM replacements that's definitely attractive). The other option is to replace the existing cylinders to get the grader on the road, then recondition the old ones for sale, or keep them as spares.

yes with cars its often not worth doing but with older machinery reco is a very cost effective option. cat did use a fair bit of standardised parts so you never know, a google search using those part numbers might get you the NSN or national stock number which can then help with such particulars as bore sizes etc but also can help you find after-market parts and other vehicles that used the same stuff. which if it was a car or truck well the local auto parts may be able to help.