One of my brakes is leaking fluid. What is broken?

Question

I replaced my brake master cylinder thinking that's why I was losing pressure, after I replaced it, still no pressure, and I was losing fluid. So, I checked the brakes, and sure enough, the driver side rear brake was leaking fluid (not from the bleeder valve, just out of the bottom from somewhere on the inside). It's on a 95 Ford Ranger, 4 cyl. Any ideas?

Ok, so it's the break cylinders....I've gone and bought 2 new ones. Do I have to take the tire off and replace them from the front?

Answer 1

You need to isolate the leak. Remove the wheel and brake drum and clean everything up with brake cleaner until all the leaked brake fluid is gone. Now, step on your brakes long enough to obviate the leak. From your description, my money is on the slave cylinder, as you'd no doubt already see fluid on the brake line if it were the problem.

OK - so it WAS the brake cylinder ... to replace it, you'll need to remove the wheel, the brake drum, the brake shoes (note CAREFULLY how they are oriented and which springs go in which holes and how).

DISASSEMBLE ONLY ONE SIDE AT A TIME so you'll have the other side to use as a reference when putting the whole thing back together - each side should be the mirror image of the other.

Once everything is out of the way, you can replace the brake cylinder with the new (or rebuilt) unit. It's probably attached to the hub with two (or more) bolts ... remove them and the brake line, and mount the new cylinder where and how the old one came off. Reconnect the brake line, too! Installation is the reverse of removal. Put the brake shoes (and springs, etc) back on, then the brake drum (including the little clips that fit over the lugs to hold it on). You may want to bleed the brakes before you put the wheel on - easier to get to now - so hold off on the wheel 'til you've done both sides.

Do the other side.

Bleed your brakes.

Put your wheels back on.

Test drive the car to make sure everything's in working order before you're barreling down the highway at 100mph and discover you forgot to put something on right.

Answer 2

It is the brake cylinder inside the hub.
If you do not know what you are doing then take it to a mechanic....If you still want to do it yourself then, jack the rear end up and take off both rear tires...don't forget the jack stands. Then remove the rear drums both sides....what this will do, as you are working on the side that is faulty, you can go to the other side to make sure you put the peices back together properly....It is not an easy task if you do not know what you are doing...so be advised, if you are alittle bit apprehensive at all, take it to a mechanic.
Also, it is adviseable, if you replace one you need to replace the other, because the new brake cylinder will produce more pressure and blow the other cylinder out. So while you have the other hub off...well you get the idea

Good Luck

Answer 3

i own a repair shop,,and whats wrong with it,,it has a blown wheel cylinder on it,,this is why your loosing fluid,and it will cause you to loose all your rear brakes on it,,and when you replace it ,,replace both sides of the rear,,never just do one side,,the pressure from the new master cylinder will cause the other one to eventually blow out on it,then you,ll have to deal with that side also,and it all needs to be cleaned really good and you may need to go ahead and replace the shoes while your at it,,good luck i hope this help,s.

Answer 4

On the rear, if it isn't your break line, it is your wheel cylinder. They don't cost much, but the fluid might have ruined your shoes

Answer 5

The wheel cylinders are leaking. Get new ones and new shoes at any parts store.

Answer 6

either a brale line or the rear brake cylinder

Answer 7

you can get a new caliper or a used one from a junk yard and replace the whole thing it easy and better than replacing small part after part

Answer 8

the break line

Answer 9

your breaks