"broken " Brake Cylinder

[oddbod]

Just replaced rear oilseals on second side today,Yipeeee, came to look at the Brake Cylinder,the bottom dropped off.Is this normal. Also the whole cylinder,as it passes through the back plate,moves up and down quite significantly,as if a fixing is missing that holds it to the backplate. The cylinder on the first side was fine,any ideas???

[mike.perry]

The brake cylinder is meant to slide up and down in the slot. It pushes one shoe against the drum which pushes back on the cylinder and pushes the other shoe.
If you leave the cylinder without the shoes attached then the piston will drop out

[oddbod]

Cheers Mike, I'll be asking for tips to put the back brakes together later

[bmcecosse]

So - the one on the other side that does NOT slide - is not correct...... free it off - and make sure the piston is free to 'fall out' too. Not that is only the handbrake piston - the hydraulic piston is up inside.......