Brake problem

pyistazty · Post by **pyistazty** » Mon Aug 30, 2010 1:21 pm

So on my way home from class about an hour ago, I noticed my brakes weren't as responsive as usual. As I was going home, if I wanted to stop I had to mash the brake in and it was barely stopping, like, I had to start braking a goo 50-100ft out. When I got home I started pressing the brake in my drive way to try and listen, and inside my car with the car still running, it sounds like it's pumping air on the inside. When the car is off, the brake tightens up as usual.

About 10 minutes ago I saw a pool of liquid coming off of my rear left wheel, touched it, feels like oil or brake fluid, given the circumstances, it's probably brake fluid. Any ideas? I think I have a leak, but my car knowledge doesn't extend this far, but that's what it seems like. Thanks for any and all help!

sneakers O'toole · Post by **sneakers O'toole** » Mon Aug 30, 2010 4:08 pm

i'd take of the wheel and see if you can find where the leak is coming from. maybe take the drum off that wheel too, if you can. look for rusted lines, holes in the flex lines, maybe the wheel cylinder went..

2001Neon_LX · Post by **2001Neon_LX** » Tue Aug 31, 2010 12:17 am

I have had this happen a few times. I assume they are drums on the back. If so the three times it happened to me it was the wheel cylinder, the seals on them take a crap and piss brake fluid. More than likely the shoes will be soaked in fluid, they might need to be replaced as well due to brake fluid attracting moisture.

Post by **racer12306** » Tue Aug 31, 2010 11:16 am

As soon as pads or shoes get any kind of oil on them they are toast.

titansxt · Post by **titansxt** » Tue Aug 31, 2010 6:32 pm

2001Neon_LX wrote:I have had this happen a few times. I assume they are drums on the back. If so the three times it happened to me it was the wheel cylinder, the seals on them take a crap and piss brake fluid. More than likely the shoes will be soaked in fluid, they might need to be replaced as well due to brake fluid attracting moisture.

I'd put my money on that too.

fixitmattman · Post by **fixitmattman** » Tue Aug 31, 2010 7:29 pm

Yeah, I had one let go a while back as well. Given the age of the drums I did nothing short of a full rebuild to get it back into shape. As a minimum the shoes are done for.