Wheel Cylinder Leaks After Rebuild! (PICTS)

Beatles65 · Sep 18, 2012

I rebuilt the wheel cylinders on a 1969 Chevy C50 Truck and one of cylinders still leaks. I put in the new kits and three of the four are holding the brake fluid fine. The fourth lets it leak out in one side. Should I tear into it again to see inside or will that leak correct itself after use?

It started leaking after bleeding the brakes.

Thanks!
From Denton, Nebraska.
Andrew Kean

Goose · Sep 18, 2012

Now's the time to go into it again.

Frankly, I've found it's usually cheaper to buy reman cylinders than to mess with rebuilding them myself, when you consider your time.

Might not be true on a C50, though.

Merlin in Rushford · Sep 18, 2012

Hello!
Been there, done that many times on older Chevrolet, Ford, and IHC trucks. My counsel to you is to replace the wheel cylinders and the jumper lines. Cleaning and honing the wheel cylinder bores does not ensure a perfectly cylindrical bore, and under hydraulic pressure, they will sometimes leak. The wheel cylinders are readily availbale from Euclid, NAPA, and other major suppliers. Yes, they are a bit expensive, but they do not leak. It is a lot of work to tear the rear wheels apart again for a leaker. I also found that it is very worthwhile to replace the master cylinder, if that hasn't been replaced in a long time. You will have difficulty getting the brakes bled properly with an old, worn master cylinder. I hope this helps. Best wishes, and be safe!
Merlin in Rushford, MN

Anonymous-0 · Sep 18, 2012

Don,t get upset over that . A few years back I put all new brakes shoes, wheel cylinders, lines, master cylinder and spring kits on a 73 IH truck. We had two wheel cylinders blow while we were bleeding system. And everything was new no rebuilt parts.

wisbaker · Sep 18, 2012

What the other two guys said buy a rebuilt wheel cylinder. If it's made out unobtainium get Hemming's motor news, they'll have several vendors that can bore and sleeve the cylinder and make it not leak.

El Toro · Sep 18, 2012

I had that problem on a 1981 Mercury Cougar and I replaced them with new cylinders and brake lines. Hal

Dave in GA · Sep 18, 2012

If it's a truck I'm going to have for a long time, I send the cylinders (and the master cyliners) to a shop in Minneapolis. They bore the cylinders, press in stainless steel sleeves, and then finish the rebuild. Never had one leak after that. I've had several old truck ones done that way.

GordoSD · Sep 18, 2012

Pull that cylinder and check the bore. Odds are it has several deep pits in it. If it does hone them out. You did hone it didn't you?
The new cups will take care of the bore size. Brake cyl hone is pretty cheap or you can have mine. Don't think I'll do a drum service again in my lifetime.

Gambles · Sep 18, 2012

Each application is different, but I bought wheel cylinder kits for my brother's "71 F600 about a month ago for ~$12 each. The NEW wheel cylinders would have been $20. If they are still available, buy a new one to replace the one that's giving you trouble.

RodinNS · Sep 18, 2012

Just put a new cylinder on it.... Is it really worth dieing for?

Rod

gab · Sep 18, 2012

Why are those shoes pushed out past the backing plate and springs stretched to the max? Looks kind of like appling the brake with the drum off which probably would make them leak.

casecollectorsc · Sep 18, 2012

Looks like they are out far enough that the puck would hardly be in the bore! Then they will leak!

JDseller · Sep 19, 2012

Beatles65: Did you have the brake drums on while you where bleeding the brakes??? It really looks like you bleed the brakes with the drums off. This would allow the cylinders to over extend and blow the cups out of the bores. Then they would leak. You need the drums on and the brakes adjusted to close to tight.

If you just removed the drum after bleeding them. Then I would take it back apart and hone the bore some more. I also would get two new cups for that cylinder. You can buy just the cups and they don't cost much at all. You may have damaged one getting it in the bore.

PS. Make sure you did not put one in back wards. I have done that before. Makes you feel like an idiot when you tear it all back down because of doing that.

Wheel Cylinder Leaks After Rebuild! (PICTS)

Beatles65

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Goose

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Merlin in Rushford

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Anonymous-0

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wisbaker

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El Toro

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Dave in GA

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GordoSD

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Gambles

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RodinNS

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gab

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casecollectorsc

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JDseller

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