Brake cylinder repair kits - any good?

Post by **MGFmad** » Sun Oct 26, 2008 8:31 pm

Started work on the brakes this weekend and have a leaking wheel cylinder and a sticking one as well

Before I start dismantling the cylinders to check the piston and bore - are the repair kits any good or am I as well getting new wheel cylinders?

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sun Oct 26, 2008 8:32 pm

Provided the bores of the cylinders are not corroded - then yes - repair kits are fine !

Post by **Onne** » Sun Oct 26, 2008 8:32 pm

To be safe, I would get new cylinders, but it all depends if you want to take the risk.

Have you had a look inside the cylinders?

Post by **eastona** » Sun Oct 26, 2008 8:44 pm

As BMC and Onne say, you really need to look inside the cylinders and check for corrosion. If they're OK, then they should repair.

I've never bothered repairing them though. For the difference in price between repair kit and a new cylinder, it's never seemed worth it, although it's around £6 difference per cylinder now between a seals kit and a pattern cylinder.

Also, any I've had that're stuck or leaking, the bores have been damaged or corroded.

Andrew

Post by **rob.hardy1** » Sun Oct 26, 2008 8:46 pm

If you do go with new cylinders ( as suggested ) have a good look around at the prices. I got prices from all the usual suppliers and the price ranged from £13 to £17 each and then i went to a car and truck spares suppliers locally and they were a tenner .
It just goes to show that specialists are'nt the ONLY suppliers.

Post by **HUMBLEPIE** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 5:33 pm

I had a A30 many years ago and a garage fitted repair kits to 2 brake cylinders and going down a steep hill both failed. Leaving me with the handbrake and working through the gears to slow her down and I managed to bring her to halt. Since then I always have new cylinders fitted you can't be to careful and the cost difference is minimal.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 11:49 pm

Well - repair kits are just a few pounds, new cylinders are about 3 times the cost of kits. Installed correctly, there is no risk.

Post by **MGFmad** » Tue Oct 28, 2008 8:19 pm

Thanks for the replies. I am going for new cylinders all round - I checked the history that I got with the car and its had a few instances of 'free off sticking wheel cylinders' in the last few years.