brake cylinders leaking

[patricklambert]

im going to look at a ratrod moggie this weekend and iv been told the rear brake cylinder is leaking. Is this a hard job to repair and will i need specialist tools? thanks if anyone can help
patricklambert

[bmcecosse]

Easy enough to change, no 'special tools' , biggest problem will be the brake pipe seized in the fitting, so may need a new pipe - will need new shoes too if fluid has got on the linings. I suggest change BOTH sides - and fit new linings and that's it set for another few months !!

[charlie_morris_minor]

as BMC says no special tools needed, a brake pipe spanner is like ring spanner but with a gap to allow it to pass over the brake pipe. It is a nice tool to have if you are changing pipes all the time but for once in a while i would not bother. If you have fluid on the shoes I would be a bit stronger than BMC and say you MUST change the shoes on both sides of the car ( BMC sorry if i misunderstood what you were saying,not sure if you were talking about replacing both slaves or both sets of shoes )

[bmcecosse]

Both slaves AND both sets of shoes!

[patricklambert]

great! thanks for the help, im going this weekend to see the car and im at ease now that i know its not a hard job to do!
patricklambert

[chickenjohn]

as BMC says no special tools needed, a brake pipe spanner is like ring spanner but with a gap to allow it to pass over the brake pipe. It is a nice tool to have if you are changing pipes all the time but for once in a while i would not bother.-snip-

I bought a 7/16" decent quality (old Draper, I think) brake spanner years ago, and every time I use it, I'm glad I did! Definitely a tool to have if you are going to work on brakes. BTW, modern cars often use 11mm brake fixings and my old spanner works perfectly for these as well!. Other than that, rear brake cylinders can be hard to bleed properly, so, prime with brake fluid first and jack the rear of the car up and leave for the bubbles to find their way to the nipples. Both great tips i got from this forum.

[patricklambert]

ah great! thanks! im being given a whole load of old spanners and bits and bobs by the local ''lovejoy'' caracter which will help me along thanks for the help as i dont have a clue about brakes on these
patricklambert

[chickenjohn]

If you are changing cylinder and shoes at the back- it is a good idea to change the brake springs as well-unless obviously recently changed- available from the usual Minor suppliers- don't need the "beehive spring". Also, inspect and clean the drum while it is off for excessive wear and scoring (wear dust mask in case of old asbestos brake shoes!!!) and look at the handbrake cable, which should not be frayed. Also a good idea while the drums and shoes are off to check for leaks from the rear hubs/halfshafts.

[bmcecosse]

I've never had the slightest bother bleeding rear brakes - even with new cylinders........

[billlobban]

But Roy we all know you can walk on water
By the way only 226 posts to go

[bmcecosse]

Even my size 14s won't let me walk on water! There really is NO problem bleeding these brakes - even I can do it. People shouldn't shy away from it - as if it is in some way mysterious and/or difficult!

[patricklambert]

Size 14 wow im a size 13! In trainers, anyway im looking foward to getting stuck in! I talked to matey with the car and he said it took 3 weeks to lose most of the fluid from the resivoir

[xpress]

beehive springs are they the little round coiled springs, what are they/were they for?

one of mine broke and fell off. lol.

[bmcecosse]

They are intended to hold the shoes snuggly against the backplate - most folks throw them away!

[aupickup]

i put them on

[taupe]

I put them on too!!!

[marcusthemoose]

and me! they are a bummer

[alex_holden]

It gets easier with practice.