leaking rear wheel cylinder? what to do...

cgneon · Post by **cgneon** » Mon May 09, 2011 10:04 am

apparently i have this problem..

the brakes still work tho, "for now" im at 72k on original rear pads....

occasional demons wrote:It is possible to be a rear wheel cylinder, and collecting in the drum for a bit before it flows out. Check the rear tire's inner side for fluid. Might be slinging it off as you drive. The rear shoes might be soaked also. .

i have been losing brake fluid slowly, drops to add level once a month (granted i dont drive much, a tank of gas lasts me a month). i have been puzzled as to the loss, so i have been looking around, thought maybe a seal was leaking underneath the reservoir.. it looks wet, so that may be another problem.

how badly am i screwed? i have not taking the drum off, i have never messed with drum brakes before..,
Is the whole thing ruined in there or do i just need it cleaned out, replaced pads and cylinder, bleed and good to go?... is this something i can do myself or am i gonna need special tools?, etc..... pads are cheap, the cylinder is cheap.. a shop will rape me on labor of course.....

Post by **racer12306** » Mon May 09, 2011 11:04 am

You will need to replace the shoes as they won't work properly after being soaked in brake fluid.

Should just be able to replace the shoes, springs (not required but not a bad idea while you are in there) and the item that's leaking then clean the hell out of everything and be good.

cgneon · Post by **cgneon** » Mon May 09, 2011 11:44 am

well just stopped by the mechanic and got a price of 200$..... ouch..

but that covers new shoes for both sides, turn the drums if needed, new wheel cylinders for both sides, and bleeding....

if i buy all the parts i need im lookin at around 100$+ or more, for new drums(since i have no way to turn the old ones), new shoes, new cylinders, new fluid, oddball spring tools/ cleaners/ drain pain, im gonna need.. let alone, i dont think i can do brake jobs in my apt complex without gettin hassled..

guess i'll just suck it up and let the pros do it... ive had the car since 03, and this is the first thing to go wrong on it, and i plan on driving it forever

, so i cant complain too much.. wish i could put discs on the back, they are so much easier to work with, i have no problem with those...

Post by **racer12306** » Mon May 09, 2011 11:49 am

Doesn't sound like too bad of a price.

I agree, it's almost a requirement for my future vehicles to have rear discs. Just so easy to mess with.

cgneon · Post by **cgneon** » Mon May 09, 2011 11:51 am

im browsing the rear disc swap posts now lol...

edit: just went to the local junkyard and ripped apart a couple rear drums to see what it all entails.. (i also have a full FSM, which is handy) and i gotta say it doesnt look too difficult... all i need are shoes and wheel cylinders and a brake spring tool...

anyone else done this before have any input on rear drums etc?...

cgneon · Post by **cgneon** » Tue May 10, 2011 4:19 pm

i think im gonna do this myself if my rear disc swap doesnt work out..

soooooo, last question, can you reuse the old drums without turning them if they are not scarred up? im at 70k miles on the original drums... no scraping noises as of yet from the shoes.. that'll save me 46$ in parts..

so it'll be 60$ for everything i need... minus the drums.. those are 23each from napa, or should i just spring for new ones..?

Post by **racer12306** » Tue May 10, 2011 5:25 pm

It's best to at least clean up the drums and check them.

Pablodragon · Post by **Pablodragon** » Tue May 10, 2011 7:10 pm

I also delved into it a little... just wanted to do the shoes...got all the info and instructions, even help from here... BUT...

had ALOT off trouble with the springs... could find no easy way or even helper tool that would get the springs back in place... took me ALL afternoon one day, just getting the springs back... and no one had any easy answer... it's just a bitch... I had 2 different kinds of spring pullers, but the Neon brakes are designed VERY badly when it comes to the springs

...so much so, that I did one side, then took it to a local mechanic, with parts in hand, to have him do the other side for me... plus I had a leaking cylinder on that side, so I decided to just bite the bullit for some labor charges

cgneon · Post by **cgneon** » Tue May 10, 2011 7:13 pm

i watched a youtube 3 part vid on doin my exact car.. i searched neon drum brakes and it was pretty easy to follow...

i also went to the junkyard yesterday and ripped a couple apart just to see how it all worked..

not afraid of the work personally...

but i am fingers crossed on the disc swap b4 i get into it..