Today's project - wheel cylinder

"VincentMalamute-Kim" (VincentMalamute-Kim)
10/14/2013 at 13:31 • Filed to: None

Yesterday I noticed decreased braking power going to work. Coming home, the pedal hit the floor on a hard stop. uh oh. The brake fluid was low so I topped that up. Then I noticed the large puddle of brake fluid under the rear wheel.

The drum wouldn't come off even after bringing out the large hammer. So I opened up the Haynes manual and found out I have no understanding of old school brake drums, hubs, and unsealed bearings. I learned that the drum IS the hub and I have to remove the axle nut first!

Lesson 1 - read the instructions first. Understand the steps involved before destroying things. I always jump into a project feet first since instructions are boring and hard work and besides it's obvious how it comes apart, right? I am trying to change this habit but it's hard.

I'm off to Advance Auto for a new wheel cylinder. Because nothing is simple and this is how projects always go, I am anticipating that the brake line will be rusted solid to the old cylinder . And I will end up replacing the entire brake line from the master cylinder to the wheel. Bets? BTW, large rusted pieces of the body fell off while I was hammering the drum.

DISCUSSION (10)

Mattbob > VincentMalamute-Kim
10/14/2013 at 13:35

nice lift. Good luck, I hate working on my rear drums. On mine, the Drum is separate from the hub though. It sounds like you are in for a fun time, but it looks like you have the hard stuff done.

Party-vi > VincentMalamute-Kim
10/14/2013 at 13:42

Weird. I've never had the drum integral to the hub. Usually there's an adjustment screw that needs backed out before taking the drum off (auto-adjusting screw IIFC). Good luck, and make sure you get some spring tools!

dinobot666 > VincentMalamute-Kim
10/14/2013 at 13:43

Beam axle.

Drum brakes.

Leaf springs.

Is this a Mercury Voyager per chance?

VincentMalamute-Kim > dinobot666
10/14/2013 at 14:18

Close. Daily driver 1991 Dodge Caravan. Although it's spending a lot of broken lately.

VincentMalamute-Kim > Mattbob
10/14/2013 at 14:22

Thanks. The lift is so nice even for something like this where I can elevate it to a comfortable height. At Advance Auto they told me there is a US made cylinder with 3/4" dia and a Euro made cylinder with a 13/16" diameter for the van and no way to tell which one you have without taking it apart and measuring it. Argh! I bought both.

VincentMalamute-Kim > Party-vi
10/14/2013 at 14:26

yeah! For the longest time I thought it was that adjustment screw keeping the pads out preventing the drum from coming off. After I read the manual, I learned there's a lever you have to lift up that locks the star wheel on the adjustment screw. It turned out that locking lever assembly cable had rusted and the lever had fallen and was rattling around in the drum.

I got the spring tools in the picture. First time I will be packing bearings though.

dinobot666 > VincentMalamute-Kim
10/14/2013 at 14:28

The rear fascia wrap threw me off. Is yours one of the rare manuals that could be had in the Caravan in that time period?

VincentMalamute-Kim > dinobot666
10/14/2013 at 14:30

ooh - that would be an interesting car and a minivan I'd love to have! A manual turbo-minivan of that era: http://www.turbovan.net/van.html

Party-vi > VincentMalamute-Kim
10/14/2013 at 14:50

Get ready for an absolute mess. Seriously, I haven't had dirtier hands other than when I've packed bearings.

Mattbob > VincentMalamute-Kim
10/14/2013 at 15:16

haha, oh that sucks. so if you get the wrong one, it won't fit, or do you just get uneven braking?