Brief brakes update

Kinja'd!!! by "Funktheduck" (funktheduck)
Published 01/31/2017 at 22:29

Tags: Damn brakes
STARS: 0


Loosened the the hard line going to the drum that wouldn’t bleed and fluid came out. Still can’t get fluid from the bleed screw. Leaning towards something up with the wheel cylinder.

Was able to bleed the front passenger side tonight. Gave it a few more pumps of the pedal and broke whatever loose and all was well.

Now for the fun issues. Brakes are still garbage. I had my fiancée pump the pedal while I monkeyed with the rear there was a loud pop. It kind of sounded like she released the parking brake but she did not. Now the pedal doesn’t feel right. Doesn’t seem like it comes back to where it should. Squishy but hard? Before the pop it felt normal. Little stopping power.

I plan on going back around and checking each wheel for air in the lines. Will take off the rear wheel to take a gander at the wheel cylinder. If it looks funky I’ll just put on a new one (both sides if replacement needed).

Any suggestions?


Replies (10)

Kinja'd!!! "crowmolly" (crowmolly)
01/31/2017 at 22:43, STARS: 0

Does fluid flow out of the bleeder after the big pop?

Kinja'd!!! "Funktheduck" (funktheduck)
01/31/2017 at 22:48, STARS: 0

Not out of the rear one I was working on. Haven’t tried any others. I replaced a hose. Took it for a short test drive and called it a night.

Kinja'd!!! "Junkrat aka Rick Sanchez: Fury Road Edition" (realasabass)
01/31/2017 at 22:48, STARS: 0

Adjuster cable may have snapped, or perhaps the shoe lock broke. Something put one of the rear shoes out of adjustment so you don’t have the pressure on the wheel cylinder to give you good pedal feel. Your rear shoe adjustment is a big component of pedal feel in general. I deal with 4 wheel drums on one of my cars and every brake job I say that next time will be brake job I convert to disc. It seems money is always a problem when that time comes around. This last time I ended up having to replace the entire system end to end.

Kinja'd!!! "crowmolly" (crowmolly)
01/31/2017 at 22:49, STARS: 1

I’m thinking you need new wheel cylinders anyway. They are cheap enough at NAPA.

Kinja'd!!! "Funktheduck" (funktheduck)
01/31/2017 at 22:55, STARS: 0

Yeah. Just a pain because drum brakes.

Kinja'd!!! "Funktheduck" (funktheduck)
01/31/2017 at 22:57, STARS: 0

I’ve looked into disc brake conversions for my truck before. Definitely not in the budget any time soon. I’ll be taking the wheel off soon. Just able to do little bits and pieces after work and before it gets dark and cold. Tonight it was just dark so I did what I could

Kinja'd!!! "Junkrat aka Rick Sanchez: Fury Road Edition" (realasabass)
01/31/2017 at 23:01, STARS: 0

I hear you about the dark and cold, and if not it’s raining here in the NW.

Kinja'd!!! "LightweightSasquatch" (lightweightsasquatch)
01/31/2017 at 23:01, STARS: 1

SHOUT OUT! to all the significant others who have pumped the brake pedal or other tedious task for a loved one!

Carry on.

Kinja'd!!! "brianbrannon" (brianbrannon)
01/31/2017 at 23:41, STARS: 0

Take the bleeder screw out and clean the hole in it. Clean the hole it came out of if fluid isn’t coming out

Kinja'd!!! "Squid" (squid)
01/31/2017 at 23:55, STARS: 0

Put a blowgun on the cylinder not bleeding. See if that cures it. But really just throw some new cylinders in and call it a day. Drums are a bitch but having one inactive drum is no fun trying to stop in a panic.