replacing rear brake wheel cylinder

People,

Brake pedal went to the floor in driveway, so after inspection the rear wheel cylinder (one of them) is leaking badly. Time to replace BOTH. Fluid leak all over the place, blackish gunk all over. Washed it down. I noticed the cylinder is not the clip on style but held on with 2 "bolts". But the cylinder is held by 2 torx sockets. Anyone know the size?

Thanks, people.

pippo said:

People,

Brake pedal went to the floor in driveway, so after inspection the rear wheel cylinder (one of them) is leaking badly. Time to replace BOTH. Fluid leak all over the place, blackish gunk all over. Washed it down. I noticed the cylinder is not the clip on style but held on with 2 "bolts". But the cylinder is held by 2 torx sockets. Anyone know the size?

Thanks, people.

Click to expand...

If you have a caliper you can convert the distance point to point to the T number.

Check the master cylinder, I bought 2 A bodies that use the same master cylinder and it seems, when the car sits for years without being used, the rubber in the master cylinder goes bad and the cylinder needs to be replaced. Even if a slave is leaking the pedal should not go all the way down, unless the master cylinder has gone bad.

Thanks, people. Now, Im taking apart all the springs, etc. removed the master cylinder with the torx socket - easy. But man, tyhat cylinder is wedged between the hub and backing plate- no way to get it out. How does one do that? haynes manual makes it sound so easy by saying "remove 2 bolts, then pull out the cylinder. yeah right.

I just cant see how to remove- it is so snug , wedged, no room, or space allowed. HELP!!!!

Remove the bolts that hold the backing plate on, and see if it comes off, or moves enough for you to squeeze the cylinder out.
sometimes you can get a clamp and push the cylinder all the way in and take the pads out and get a lot more room that way.

While I have never replaced rear wheel drum brake cylinders on a FWD Sunbird, all the other models I have done you have to removed the brake Line, the 2 bolts that hold the cylinder to the backing plate or axle. You usually have to remove all the linkage and the brake shoes also. I would suggest replacing shoes as once they are contaminated with brake fluid they will not operate correctly.
If the wheel cylinder does not just pop off when you remove the 2 bolts and the brake line (and the shoes and attaching hardware. Then it needs to be persuaded to come off, I usually use a dead blow rubber mallet, but have on occasion had to use a real hammer and a punch to remove them from behind.

This video while not of the same model car as yours should apply, good luck!