Drum brakes leaking

[Sonicman]

I've been rebuilding my engine and some other stuff in the engine area the last 2 weeks. I get under the truck tonight to take off the manual steering box and notice alot of brake fluid running down the wheel and tire on the front drivers side. I have not had time to investigate yet. So......where do I start? I will check the brake bleeder just in case. But I don't know where to go from there. I've never messed with drum brakes before. Please help.

[Davetopay]

WHeel cylinders, also check to make sure you aren't leaking from the master cyl on the firewall. Check the rubber brake line too!

[red71cheyenne]

Originally Posted by Davetopay

WHeel cylinders, also check to make sure you aren't leaking from the master cyl on the firewall. Check the rubber brake line too!

Yep, just went thru all 4 on mine. They were all leaking down the backing plates. I think I could have bought rebuild kits for them, but just went ahead and put all new in all 4.

[LONGHAIR]

Originally Posted by red71cheyenne

I think I could have bought rebuild kits for them, but just went ahead and put all new in all 4.

For no more than they cost, it is worth getting new, rather than the time and fist-fight that comes from rebuilding them. The bleeder screws can be tough, especially in rust-prone areas.

[Sonicman]

So I need to replace the wheel cylinders, rubber brake lines and bleeder screws? Anything else I need? Man it really excites me when I need advice and make a thread I have always gotten a quick response not from just one person but many!!! Thank you all!!!

[cdowns]

would b a good thing to do a complete rebuild shoes cylinders etc and dont neglect to check those rubber brake hoses real good to see if they need replacement too

[oldblue1968chevy]

Yup,must be that time of year, my rears were leaking too, dont get em at autozone, 1 of the new ones i got started leaking after installation

[red71cheyenne]

Originally Posted by Sonicman

So I need to replace the wheel cylinders, rubber brake lines and bleeder screws? Anything else I need? Man it really excites me when I need advice and make a thread I have always gotten a quick response not from just one person but many!!! Thank you all!!!

New wheel cylinders come with new bleeders. And they are pretty cheap.

[Stocker]

New brake cylinders (as mentioned, not worth it to fool with rebuild kits) and eyeball the hoses & shoes. If the shoes have plenty of material but are contaminated by brake fluid, clean 'em up real good with brake cleaner. If they're getting thin, just get new shoes.

[Sonicman]

Ok guys...........can get everything at O'Reily's here but I can't get there freakin drums off. I soaked them in WD40 and hit with a hammer all the way around. And backed off the brake shoes. Any helpful hints on getting those bad boys off?

[geezer#99]

Front drums are riveted to the hubs. The whole thing comes off together. Back ones slide off like normal.

[Sonicman]

So how does that unit come off? Do you have to chisel off the rivet head? Why don't any of the books talk about them being riveted together?

[cdowns]

i guess GM figured a competent mecanic could see the rivets

[Stocker]

Originally Posted by cdowns

i guess gm figured a competent mecanic could see the rivets

wow

[Sonicman]

Originally Posted by cdowns

i guess GM figured a competent mecanic could see the rivets

Wow....that was a shot. Sorry I didn't go to mechanics school..........I'm sure like a lot of guys on here didn't either. That's why I use this forum. And I've never worked on drum brakes before, so know I didn't know those were rivets. But again.........why doesn't the service manual or the haynes book mention anything about rivets?

[geezer#99]

No mention in the manual cause they where a complete set and were to stay that way.
If you pop the dust cap off you'll see a big nut and cotter key. Remove the cotter key and loosen the nut off a ways and pull the whole thing toward you. The inner bearing and washer will come out a bit. Take the nut off and pull the whole thing out and catch the bearing. Easy Peazzy!!!
You can seperate the drum from the hub if you need to. Put your lugnuts back on to protect the lugs threads and chisel or grind the heads of the rivets off. Use a punch to pop the rest of the rivet out of the hub. Don't leave them in there.
I ain't a mechanic either. Just a hotrodder. LOL!!!

[red71cheyenne]

Dang, that was a shot. I didn't know they were riveted either, the PO must have removed them in the past. My front ones were tough to get off, but just from 20 years of not being off.

[LONGHAIR]

Originally Posted by Sonicman

Wow....that was a shot. Sorry I didn't go to mechanics school..........I'm sure like a lot of guys on here didn't either.

It is a little harsh, but we are talking about brakes here. For your own safety (and those of us around you) you really should know what you are doing when working on them.....especially drums on the front. If they drag/pull/lock-up it is a much bigger deal.

We are all here to help.....but not all help "sounds" like something you may want to hear. Proceding w/o knowing what to do, is not the way to go with some systems....brakes being one of them. Steering is up there too, which generally includes suspension parts, cutting and welding frame rails.....etc.

It is good to come here to learn, but I wouldn't expect every word to be blind encouragement. Excercise caution, which also includes not ignoring problems.

[Sonicman]

Originally Posted by geezer#99

No mention in the manual cause they where a complete set and were to stay that way.
If you pop the dust cap off you'll see a big nut and cotter key. Remove the cotter key and loosen the nut off a ways and pull the whole thing toward you. The inner bearing and washer will come out a bit. Take the nut off and pull the whole thing out and catch the bearing. Easy Peazzy!!!
You can seperate the drum from the hub if you need to. Put your lugnuts back on to protect the lugs threads and chisel or grind the heads of the rivets off. Use a punch to pop the rest of the rivet out of the hub. Don't leave them in there.
I ain't a mechanic either. Just a hotrodder. LOL!!!

Thank you very much for the info!!!!!! I popped the rivets out and separated and cleaned everything. So there was no brake material on the shoes on the drivers side and the drum had to very deep grooves in it. I can't believe how bad they were. The passenger's side was bad but not to the point of putting grooves in the drum. O'Riely's had all the parts so I'll get it all back together tomorrow. I took pics of everything so it goes back the right way. Do you have any advice for reassembly?

[geezer#99]

Just keep it all clean. Don't touch your new shoes with greasy hands. I use an aerosol type brake cleaner to clean everything.
If you're putting on new drums beware that the new ones won't have slots in them to access the adjuster star wheel. You might need to make your own in the backing plate.