pre natioal meet brake problem HELP

[eefy]

1 day to go and went out to the rocco to find brake fuel on the floor behind the drivers rear wheel, wheel off and drum removed looks like the wheel brake cylinder has gone!!!!

So how difficult is it to change?

there's brake fluid on the drum and shoes, will a clean up of these be enough or do both or just the shoes need changing?

what about contamination of the wheel bearing etc?

need to get this sorted tomorrow afternoon which I'm now taking off, so any advice really appreciated :)

[Risocco]

Cylinders themselves are easy. Two bolts and the come out. Its more difficult to remove the drum The allen bolts on the back will round off in almost all cases, be prepared.

Clean the drum with abrasive paper and brake cleaner.

If you change the shoes, you really should do both sides.

Bearings will be fine I would have thought?

[eefy]

Will replace the shoes I think, just a pain as they've only got about 4000 miles on em :( but looking at them I bet the shoes have absorbed the fluid. Fingers crossed the bolts come out okay!!!!!!

was planning on cleaning and rubbing down the drums anyway :)

[Nate]

Contaminated shoes must be changed as an axle set.

standard advise re: brake lines - use a 6 point split ring spanner to avoid rounding them off

[eefy]

thanks for that Nate, will swap both sets of shoes and definitely use a 6 point spanner :)

[the edmundator]

Be prepared with a good supply of expletives for replacing all the springs.

[eefy]

lol been there before with the springs when I replaces the drums shoes and springs a few years ago, learnt quickly on the other side the order to put the springs on.

oh bugger just remembered I'm going to shred my fingers hooking up the handbrake, really should have got one of those special tools for the job!!!!! hey ho i'll be the one on Saturday with plasters on most of my fingers lol

[PeteGLi]

If the other rear brake cylinder is the same age as the one that has gone, I should replace that as well, otherwise you know what will happen in the near future ........

[MacColl]

Sorry maybe already mentioned but I'd advise getting fresh bolts for the cylinders (two per side) as you'll likely chew them getting them out

Me and Bengould ended up being forced to use a dremel to cut a slot to get better purchase removing the old ones.

[eefy]

do GSF or Eurocarparts do the bolts?

[go-for-it1]

Bolts are M6 about 1/2" long thread, cheese head with allen key recess. GSF may do the bolts. Regrease the bearings and dont forget to bleed bleed and bleed the brakes. Hook the handbrake cable before locating shoes on backplate, and squeeze the new cylinder pistons in by hand when locating the shoes. Top tip.
Rob

[Village Idiots]

Unbolt the cylinders before trying to undo the brake line. This way you can unwind the cylinders from the brake line (holding the union with the special spanner). By not turning this union relative to the rigid line you don't risk twisting and fracturing the line if it's siezed to the union.

[mark1gls]

Little bit of copper grease on the bolts that hold the wheel cyinder on will make it easier to remove them next time round.

[eefy]

Thanks for all the advice, job went far to straight forward for a change!!!!! anyhow back on the road and see you all tomorrow :)