Leaking ?

so lately i have been having to buy a bottle of brake fluid a week. i have searched near every wheel and even at the master cylinder and proportioning valve and cant find this magical leak. anyone have any insight on where it could be ?

Every brake leak I have had has been from the rear wheel cylinder. It would leak down onto the rim. Sounds like your leak should be bad enough to easily spot though....


joseph

If its not in the usual places (calipers, rear wheel cylinders, lines, engine bay area of the master cylinder) look at your brake pedal, where it goes through the firewall. Sometimes the o rings in the actual piston can go bad, allowing fluid to leak down the shaft, either between the booster and firewall where it is hard to see or into the actual interior of the car, to be sucked up by carpet and sound deading material.

No offense but rear wheel cylinder? I have checked the pedal and the engine bay area where the pedal goes through the firewall. Nothing there.

Yea actually mine leaked slowly there for a while before it became obvious. Hope your not trying to be a smart ass while asking for help.


Joseph

To actually see the cylinder, you have to pull the wheel and brake drum off.
It is the "tube" at the top of the setup with the rubber boots at either side, that the top part of the brake shoes make contact into.

I have had brake fluid "leak" into the booster on two of my cars. It would take to smoking badly, on right-hand turns (I think).

Keith

Yea mine would leak slowly in the drum before getting bad enough to drip out onto the rim. Easy 12 dollar fix if that's it.

Joseph

I am willing to bet money that if the OP pulls his rear drums he will find at least one leaky wheel cylinder.

Scott

Sorry I wasn't meaning to sound like a smart ass I just never heard of that part before. I'll take the rears off tomorrow weather permitting and check it out. Thanks for all of the help guys.

Add me to the "it's a wheel cylinder" camp. I had two wheel cylinders go bad over the years on my 1G. Like the other guys have mentioned, it makes a real mess on the front of the backing plate and inside the drum, well before it's obvious in the wheel.

Good opportunity to replace the shoes while you're at it, if they're getting worn. Don't forget the hardware kit (springs, clips, etc.) - it's cheap. FSM ^^^^ has good step-by-step instructions.

Funny thing after doing drum brakes on Hondas for nearly thirty years, I did the drums on my truck for the first time a few weekends ago. Much easier, since the drum was as big as a pizza pan and I didn't need to put on my reading glasses to see the springs.

both of my rears are doing this. i cant see it untill i take a good look behind the drums

As long as you are digging around in your rear brakes...

Change out your backing plates to 1988 or newer pieces and slap on a set of aluminum drums.

There, I said it. Ah, that feels good.

Your right on that one Keith. I had the same thing happen to my 87 with its booster. And when I got on the brakes hard as well. Smoke City ! !

you should almost always change the shoes if the wheel cylinder is leaking...



This is why. The fluid soaks into and contaminates the lining. Not only do they smoke but can become grabby and cause a lock up way easier then they should. Not a good thing to have your rear wheels lock up under hard braking going into a hard corner.