Leaking rear brake - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Rc 415 · 06-20-2007, 01:46 PM

My Drivers side drum is leaking out the back, how can I stop it?
In these pictures I just wiped off the rim and tire, but there was brake fluid on them.

bigblock73 · 06-20-2007, 01:56 PM

Replace the wheel cylinder or fix the brake line...whichever it is.

Jason Spears · 06-20-2007, 01:59 PM

A leaking axle seal can also make the tire wet, but you said it was brake fluid, so its probably the cylinder as bigblock73 said.

Jay

Rc 415 · 06-20-2007, 02:10 PM

Well, actually I'm not sure if its brake fluid, but it leaks out inbetween these 2 parts as you can see in this pic:

bigblock73 · 06-20-2007, 02:24 PM

That is brake fluid. If it were axle grease, it would be darker and your rear brakes would lock up on you when stopping as more than likely the shoes would be getting soaked with lube.

I would check the line at the cylinder, see if it is corroded or rusty (causing a hole), if not that, just replace the wheel cylinder.

ChaseDale3and8 · 06-20-2007, 02:27 PM

Sounds like a bad wheel cylinder to me as well. Jack it up and pull the brake drum off. You will be able to tell real quick which one it is. Whatever you do don't drive it until you figure out which one it is because if it's the brakes you sure don't want to be in traffic when that wheel cylinder finally gives up! ...Joe

Pyrotechnic · 06-20-2007, 06:46 PM

I had a leaky set on the 12 bolt rear I just pulled out. They are fairly inexpensive to replace.

benoit454 · 06-20-2007, 08:51 PM

Yea wheel cylinders only cost about $11 to change from autozone or advanced even NAPA. I changed them on our 84 recently.

All you have to do is smell it, looks like brake fluid to me, but if you know what gear grease smells like you can tell right off.

Also as they said, take the tire off and the drum, if it's wetest up top under the wheel cylinder, then that's it, if it's only wet under the axle then it's the axle seal.

Had one do that on an 86 camaro, they aint very fun to change.

boxrodz · 06-21-2007, 12:48 AM

If it is the wheel cylinder, you may also want to replace the other side as well. This way, you'll have them replaced as a set.

xtreme80 · 06-21-2007, 05:40 AM

Get some on your finger and smell it. If you can't tell the difference in the smell, then stick a different finger in your master cylinder and compare.

95% chance it's a wheel cylinder though. If it was an axle seal it would be wet where the brakes bolt to the axle housing as well.

Blackstone · 06-21-2007, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boxrodz

If it is the wheel cylinder, you may also want to replace the other side as well. This way, you'll have them replaced as a set.

I agree. If one's leaking, the other can't be far behind. Also, if you install a new spring kit for about $15 while you're in there you shouldn't have to mess with the rear brakes for several years.

ChaseDale3and8 · 06-21-2007, 07:26 PM

If I it were me, I'd just completely replace all of the brake parts and do a complete rebuild, hardware and all. It's not real expensive to do and will last a long time so you wouldn't have to worry about messing with it again for a long time since you will likely wear out the fronts at least twice before you'd ever have to touch the rear again. ...Joe

06-20-2007, 01:46 PM	#1
Rc 415 Flat Black, & Chrome! Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: San Francisco Posts: 852	Leaking rear brake My Drivers side drum is leaking out the back, how can I stop it? In these pictures I just wiped off the rim and tire, but there was brake fluid on them. __________________ 1983 Chevy C10 Stepside Sold http://s69.photobucket.com/albums/i76/rc_415/ Last edited by Rc 415; 06-20-2007 at 01:58 PM.

06-20-2007, 01:56 PM	#2
bigblock73 yeller Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Twin Cities Posts: 13,824	Re: Leaking rear brake Replace the wheel cylinder or fix the brake line...whichever it is. __________________ Jeff 73-87.com 73-87.com Facebook page 73-87 cab corner 6x9 speaker brackets for sale 67-72 cab corner speaker brackets for sale 47-54 cab corner speaker brackets for sale

06-20-2007, 01:59 PM	#3
Jason Spears Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Stoney Creek, ON Posts: 89	Re: Leaking rear brake A leaking axle seal can also make the tire wet, but you said it was brake fluid, so its probably the cylinder as bigblock73 said. Jay Last edited by Jason Spears; 06-20-2007 at 02:02 PM. Reason: left out some info

06-20-2007, 02:10 PM	#4
Rc 415 Flat Black, & Chrome! Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: San Francisco Posts: 852	Re: Leaking rear brake Well, actually I'm not sure if its brake fluid, but it leaks out inbetween these 2 parts as you can see in this pic: __________________ 1983 Chevy C10 Stepside Sold http://s69.photobucket.com/albums/i76/rc_415/ Last edited by Rc 415; 06-20-2007 at 02:11 PM.

06-20-2007, 02:24 PM	#5
bigblock73 yeller Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Twin Cities Posts: 13,824	Re: Leaking rear brake That is brake fluid. If it were axle grease, it would be darker and your rear brakes would lock up on you when stopping as more than likely the shoes would be getting soaked with lube. I would check the line at the cylinder, see if it is corroded or rusty (causing a hole), if not that, just replace the wheel cylinder. __________________ Jeff 73-87.com 73-87.com Facebook page 73-87 cab corner 6x9 speaker brackets for sale 67-72 cab corner speaker brackets for sale 47-54 cab corner speaker brackets for sale

06-20-2007, 02:27 PM	#6
ChaseDale3and8 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Springfield Mo. Posts: 1,086	Re: Leaking rear brake Sounds like a bad wheel cylinder to me as well. Jack it up and pull the brake drum off. You will be able to tell real quick which one it is. Whatever you do don't drive it until you figure out which one it is because if it's the brakes you sure don't want to be in traffic when that wheel cylinder finally gives up! ...Joe

06-20-2007, 06:46 PM	#7
Pyrotechnic Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 3,930	Re: Leaking rear brake I had a leaky set on the 12 bolt rear I just pulled out. They are fairly inexpensive to replace.

06-20-2007, 08:51 PM	#8
benoit454 Chris Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Monaville, WV Posts: 3,737	Re: Leaking rear brake Yea wheel cylinders only cost about $11 to change from autozone or advanced even NAPA. I changed them on our 84 recently. All you have to do is smell it, looks like brake fluid to me, but if you know what gear grease smells like you can tell right off. Also as they said, take the tire off and the drum, if it's wetest up top under the wheel cylinder, then that's it, if it's only wet under the axle then it's the axle seal. Had one do that on an 86 camaro, they aint very fun to change. __________________ Chris GIT R DONE!!!!!! Check out all our rides, http://www.cardomain.com/id/benwa454

06-21-2007, 12:48 AM	#9
boxrodz Until Seventy Times Seven Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Rocky Mountain Front Range Posts: 1,301	Re: Leaking rear brake If it is the wheel cylinder, you may also want to replace the other side as well. This way, you'll have them replaced as a set. __________________ boxRODz 1983 C10 SWB Fleetside When two halves is gone, there's nuthin left. Two nothings is nuthin. That's mathematics son. You can argue with me but you can't argue with figures. Two half nothings is a whole nuthin...

06-21-2007, 05:40 AM	#10
xtreme80 Wishin' I had more money! Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Eugene, OR Posts: 1,242	Re: Leaking rear brake Get some on your finger and smell it. If you can't tell the difference in the smell, then stick a different finger in your master cylinder and compare. 95% chance it's a wheel cylinder though. If it was an axle seal it would be wet where the brakes bolt to the axle housing as well.

06-21-2007, 07:26 PM	#12
ChaseDale3and8 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Springfield Mo. Posts: 1,086	Re: Leaking rear brake If I it were me, I'd just completely replace all of the brake parts and do a complete rebuild, hardware and all. It's not real expensive to do and will last a long time so you wouldn't have to worry about messing with it again for a long time since you will likely wear out the fronts at least twice before you'd ever have to touch the rear again. ...Joe

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