rear brake

Post by **sidsmith** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 5:28 pm

I took mungo out the other day for a gentle spin around the country lanes, and when I stopped to have a chat with a friend of mine I could smell a funny smell coming from the rear of the car. I felt the off/side rear wheel and lo and behold it was extremely warm. On my powers of limited deduction I have assumed that the brake shoes could be dragging and burning. So what I want to know is , will I have to change a sticking brake cylinder or could there be another solution/answer.
'56 mungo would be extremely happy with a favourable solution.

Post by **andrewsxt** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 5:35 pm

Could be handbrake.

Andy

Post by **Chris Morley** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 6:27 pm

90% certain to be a sticking rear cylinder. A blockage in the flexible hose under the rear seat can cause dragging brakes but this should mean that both rear wheels would be locked on. It's possible the brake pipe to the wheel (after the 3-way union) has got a kink or blockage but that is unlikely. It's also unlikely to be the handbrake if it was previously OK and hasn't been adjusted since. They tend to seize up so that the handbrake no longer works. To check this see if the lever arm at the top of the cylinder (attached to the handbrake cable) moves freely.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 10:19 pm

It will be the rear cylinder - which has a two piece internal piston arrangement - the outer one is operated by the handbrake and it will be sticking on. You may be able to free it off - and provided the inner piston which is operated hydraulically is moving ok and not leaking oil past the seal then all should be well.