Wheel cylinder failure

[RickB]

The green machine had a squishy pedal this morning, trail of brake fluid on the road looks like it's coming from the passenger side rear wheel.
I called NAPA and they have to order one from LA, it could be here Thursday.
Any idea who in the Seattle area may have one?
I'll call O'Reilly next - they open in 15 minutes.

 

[Trevor Jessie]

I had to replace one this spring, but neither of the local warehouses had one. I ended up ordering them. (I replaced them both and put the good one up for an emergency spare after I cleaned it up).

 

[Billm]

Rebuild it- it is faster and cheaper!
BillM

 

[RickB]

Yes it's faster and cheaper. I'd still need to get a kit and who knows about that - how long might that take and where to order it?

I replaced both of the rear cylinders in the summer of 2007.
So is 5 years the expected lifetime on these?
On a car that is driven every day?

 

[Trevor Jessie]

Were these the "aftermarket" moss wheel cylinders?

 

[RickB]

From NAPA.
O'Reilly has one I can have today for $30.
They have no listing for rebuild kits.
I can have my brakes back today for $30 so I'm going for it.

 

[Billm]

$30 is good- dead brakes are bad! go for it!
BillM

 

[MikeP]

Check the shoes carefully while apart for contamination from the fluid. If they're wet could cause uneven braking.

 

[RickB]

Thanks, will do!

 

[Jim_Gruber]

I'm having I believe a similiar issue with Bugsy. When I drove him last weekend after too long off the road(my Time Management issues and too much to do) I found the front brakes first pulling to the left and then quickly back to the right as if one caliper was closing quicker than the other. It's time for hoses for sure as they are at the 10 year mark since replacement, and probably time to do rear wheel cylinders as well and bleed everything for a fluid replacement. Since leaking Dual Master is messing up my wife's carpets that needs to be replace/resleeved as well. Brakes, knock on wood, have not bee nan issue with Bugsy over the years other than a leaky Master that I needed to top off on a regular basis for the past couple of years. Time to do it right and fix it right so I'm good to go for another 5-10 years.

 

[nomad]

Auto parts stores used to have an assortment of standard cups and seals. May still have. I've rebuilt several brake and clutch systems with no more info for the parts man than the bore size and what its supposed to look like. Worth asking if your in a bind.

Kurt.

 

[SilentUnicorn]

i was losing wheel cylinders until i replaced the over sized drums.

m

 

[RickB]

Turned out it wasn't the wheel cylinder after all.
I have a brake line that crosses under the front of my oil pan, I have always thought that might be a problem.
Turns out it started a leak there and the brake fluid I saw on the ground making a perfect arc as though it was coming from the passenger side rear wheel cylinder was actually from the leak up front.
This line has a 9/16 fitting at the right front caliper junction and a smaller - seems like 7/16 at the 4 way. But my 7/16 doesn't fit it right. I could get an 11mm wrench on it but it won't budge. Thoughts for removal?
Can I get a replacement line for this? Do I have to get one made?

 

[Trevor Jessie]

You need a line wrench aka flare nut wrench.

 

[RickB]

I'll have to get one.

 

[Billm]

Rick
Harbor Freight has a set for cheap (about $10) that has the wrenches from 3/8 to 7/8 that hook to your ratchet.
Not a great set but works very well
BillM

 

[RickB]

Thanks Bill, I will see if I can swing by after work.
Had to drive the little Red Sprite to work today.
Now I don't even feel the need for coffee, driving that on the freeway is enough to wake anybody up!

 

[RickB]

I got a flare tool for $8 and a bender for $4 at O'Reilly's.
So I cut out the part that goes under the oil pan and put a new connector on each end, flared the ends then connected each to a coupler.
Then I used a 10" piece of brake line with connectors on each end to span the gap.
You can buy them with the connectors already on them in different lengths, makes things easier.
Then with 10 feet of vinyl tubing I bled through some new Castrol LMA brake fluid and like magic I had brakes again!
Actually the brake fluid was from a very old but sealed metal container I have been keeping for just such an event.
The kind with the metal seal in the top.