Brake Wheel Cylinder Replacement
Your Car Won’t Brake Without This Very Important Component Functioning Properly
In most cars, drum brakes are the go-to brake system for the rear axle. Within the drum brakes, is an intricate system of brake components that work together in order to create the necessary brainpower your car needs.
If you are curious about the brake system in your car, keep on reading to learn about brake wheel cylinders, and how to make sure they are in good shape and functioning properly.
What is a Brake Wheel Cylinder?
The brake wheel cylinder is a vital component in a drum braking system. In a drum brake system, brake wheel cylinders push against the brake shoes. This contact creates friction which creates the braking power necessary for your car to slow down and come to a complete stop.
Like the other components in your brake system, with time, the brake wheel cylinders will begin to show signs of wear. When the wheel cylinders get awful, you will need to service your car and have them replaced.
3 Signs Your Brake Wheel Cylinders are Compromised
In general, there are three important signs that will tell you that your brake wheel cylinders should be replaced:
- Brake fluid is leaking in the area around the rear brakes: sometimes the seals on the wheel cylinders fail. When this occurs, hydraulic fluid can leak out and become visually present.
- Atypical noise from your rear brakes when coming to a stop: with sufficient leakage of the hydraulic brake fluid, contamination of the drum brake system will occur. When this happens, your brakes may begin to make atypical noises when operating.
- The brake pedal goes all the way to the floor when you depress it: when the pressurization is off within the brake system, the brake pedal will not function properly. This will make the vehicle harder to stop, especially in heavy braking scenarios.
If you notice any of these tell-tale signs, it’s time to hire a professional to perform a brake wheel cylinder replacement.
Replacing Your Brake Wheel Cylinders
Servicing your breaks routinely will increase the longevity of your car and keep you safer while out on the road. When a mechanic works on your rear brakes, the process may look something like this:
- Complete inspection of the rear drum brake system, including, the shoes, cylinders, and other hardware
- Replace the faulty wheel cylinder with a new one
- Rear brake adjustment
- Lubrication of necessary components
- Inspection of the axel seals to prevent leakage
- Hydraulic brake bleed
- Diagnostic check of the new brake system
- Test drive of the vehicle
Performing service on the brake wheel cylinders is important because if they cannot properly put pressure on the brake shoes, your car will not get the friction it needs in order to slow down safely.
Without functioning brake wheel cylinders, operating your car becomes a safety hazard. We recommend you get your brake system serviced at least once a year.
However, if your brake system warning light comes on in the dashboard, you should schedule a service appointment as soon as possible, even if it occurs outside your routine service window.
Service With Prieto Automotive
The brakes on your car are bound to wear out and require service at some point. When the time comes, look no further than Prieto Automotive for any and all your service needs.
If you have any questions or curiosities about brake repair, contact us. You can also get a quote for whatever service you might need on our website. Whatever it may be, we are here to help!