How to Repair a Brake Cylinder in Seven Easy Steps!

In effecting repair to your brake cylinder the first order of business is locating it. If your brake cylinder is worn than it should be replaced. There are several steps that are necessary in order to repair /replace your brake
cylinder. This can be accomplished by a layman once you have the necessary tools and space. Front brakes operate with calipers and brake pads that are compressed on to brake rotor. The brakes at the back have the brake drum which houses the shoes, cylinder and other mechanisms that stops the rotating of the wheel. The aim of this article to assist you in the step by step process of changing you brake cylinder.

Common tools you will need.

• Drain pan Hammer,

• Screwdriver,

• Brake shoe removal tool,

• Ratchet set,

• Brake drum puller,

• Jack stands,

• Line wrench,

• Brake spring removal kit

• Car jack,

• New brake cylinder

• Tire iron

First step: Tire Removal

Loosen the lug nuts for the wheel that you will be working on with the ratchet or tire iron. Next, jack up the car using the hydraulic jack, ensure that it is secured on the jack stand. Now, take off the lug nuts and set them is a safe place.

Second step: Drum Removal

The first thing that you will encounter after taking off the tire is the outer drum. Using a screw driver spin the drum so that the access hole and adjuster screw are in line. Now, spin the screw counter clockwise listen for a few ticks once the screw is retracted sufficiently the drum should fall off. However, if this does not happen take out the retaining screws. Use the hammer and with sufficient force knock it, if this also does not work you will need to use a tool know as the brake drum disassembling tool, this tool was designed specifically for this job.

Third step: Parts Identification

Once you have completed these steps, you will be ready to identify the many parts of the brake drum. It should consist of two brake shoes, a wheel cylinder, two retaining brake shoe springs, an emergency brake actuator arm and a brake shoe return spring.

Forth step: Brake Shoes removal

The best approach to have access to the wheel cylinder is by taking off the brake shoes.

However, it must be pointed out that if the brake shoe is less than one eighth of an inch then you will want to replace those as well. Once you have done this, then you can also separate the dust boot from the wheel cylinder and do a quick check to see if there are any leaks. If you detect that there are leaks then it will be necessary o replace those as well.

Now using your brake spring disassembling device remove the return spring from each shoe, next with the brake shoe disassembling device to release spring retainer latch off one shoe so as to take it off. You can leave one shoe on for future reference. There is no need to replace the shoes once they are in good condition place the hardware on the shoe and continue with the cylinder

Fifth Step: Cylinder Removal

Once both shoes have been removed, behind the wheel assemble connect the wrench on to the brake. Loosen and take off the mounting, ensure the pan is placed underneath to collect any leaking brake fluid, take off the bolts on the cylinder and place the parts on the cylinder.

Sixth Step: Reconnect Mounting and brake line

Ensure the mounting brakes on the cylinder are tight. Also, check that your brake line and mounting are tight by using the wrench.

Seventh Step: reassembling

Once you have replaced the cylinder connect the brake shoes with the return spring. The retaining spring adjustments need to be made with the adjuster screw to ensure that the vehicle is fit to driveagain, you may also need to remove the air from the line by bleeding the brakes.