Which wheel cylinder is bad? pics (1 Viewer)

[sproggy]

Happy Sunday to all. Next up on the never ending but endlessly expanding fix it list is the rear wheel cylinder(s) on the drivers side...again??@!!.,,1971 stock FJ40 brake system. That drum has been having a brake fluid bath. I wonder if changing the rear flex brake line or the new booster or bleeding the brakes in the last few days had anything to do with it? You know how it's such a delicate balance with these old dames. Anyhow, I've got a drum filled with fluid and gook. But looking at the cylinders I can't discern which cylinder is the culprit. I do know that the front/top (nearest front of car) cylinder has a frozen adjustment wheel on the bottom which is certainly not a good sign. The piston on the top in that cylinder did spin in the cylinder after a slight use of force meaning it is not frozen in there though I don't know that it is moving up and down...come to think of it. On the other cylinder, I popped the rubber cap and pulled the slotted top piston out quite easily. Of course, having fluid everywhere made this pretty slick. But it's not frozen. That adjustment wheel spins almost TOO easy. I did not want to pull the cylinders until I have either new cylinders or rebuild kits. Anyway to tell which cylinder is the bad one...or both bad ones? In the past I have seen one cylinder leaking or blow apart. In this case, they are both still intact.

 

[B y r o n]

Rebuild or replace both of them as a set if you are going to do anything. If you only replace one and it retains pressure better than the one you didn't then the weaker one will in all likelihood start leaking.

 

[4x4veteran]

Rebuild or replace both of them as a set if you are going to do anything. If you only replace one and it retains pressure better than the one you didn't then the weaker one will in all likelihood start leaking.

Do both wheels. No short cuts. Either rebuild or replace them all.

 

[sproggy]

I just wanted to point out my added secret spider web wheel cylinder hold down security system.

 

[coonassjohn]

New cyls are cheap enough, replace them all.

 

[sproggy]

...cheap enough is true enough. the problem is how many "cheap enough" parts does one have to buy? If only a few wheel cylinders to tame the beast.

 

[Jordan85]

I know the feeling...I rebuilt mine however they eventually leaked. Just shelled out $200 to replace all rear cylinders.

 

[sproggy]

yup, that's exactly what I just ordered today. After the brake booster last week. And now coming home 5 minutes ago my electrical is ucked up. meter is way in the plus....oh joy of joys.

 

[brian]

New cyls are cheap enough, replace them all.

And yet just the other day you were belittling someone for not wantingto repair a frame that looks like a pretzel...something to the effect of separating the mechanics from the parts replacers. but now it's ok to just replace parts because they are cheap enough?

 

[ToyotaMatt]

yup, that's exactly what I just ordered today. After the brake booster last week. And now coming home 5 minutes ago my electrical is ucked up. meter is way in the plus....oh joy of joys.

if u dont mind ,

what brand and vendor did u source them ?

I have typically always gone switch SOR.COM

and after getting burned with a defective cylinder that leaked upon install , then premature failure later once

never never went to CCOT low price ever again ,



thats my wheel cylinder 4 cents

 

[Jordan85]

Honestly I hadn’t even considered SOR as I was also purchasing replacement panels as well...trying to one stop shop.

Time will tell.

 

[sproggy]

I ordered them from Cruiser Outfitters. Not sure of the brand, says aftermarket Japanese. I think I checked SOR, too, but the price was hard to swallow if I remember correctly.

 

[coonassjohn]

...cheap enough is true enough. the problem is how many "cheap enough" parts does one have to buy? If only a few wheel cylinders to tame the beast.

I you want cheap don't own a landcruiser. Jordan85, I replaced my rear wheel cyls, drums and shoes and didn't spend $200.00. Parts came from O'reillys, good quality parts and had no issues. To answer the remark about replacing rather than repairing, wheel cyl repair is often futile due to the wear in the cyl. bore. Therefore it is usually less painful and safer to replace rather than repair.

 

[coonassjohn]

And yet just the other day you were belittling someone for not wantingto repair a frame that looks like a pretzel...something to the effect of separating the mechanics from the parts replacers. but now it's ok to just replace parts because they are cheap enough?

It's a matter of economics and safety. Labor isn't cheap. Quicker and safer to replace cyls than to rebuild. If you had your feelings hurt by what I said the other day, well.....

 

[Jordan85]

I you want cheap don't own a landcruiser. Jordan85, I replaced my rear wheel cyls, drums and shoes and didn't spend $200.00. Parts came from O'reillys, good quality parts and had no issues. To answer the remark about replacing rather than repairing, wheel cyl repair is often futile due to the wear in the cyl. bore. Therefore it is usually less painful and safer to replace rather than repair.

I rebuilt them initially because that is the essence of these utility vehicles. If I wanted a new to me cruiser I would’ve just bought one, but what is the fun in that. I am new to this acquired hobby and have now learned that rebuilding is futile because I exceeded the bore when honing them out. I wasn’t complaining nearly sympathizing...

 

[coonassjohn]

I rebuilt them initially because that is the essence of these utility vehicles. If I wanted a new to me cruiser I would’ve just bought one, but what is the fun in that. I am new to this acquired hobby and have now learned that rebuilding is futile because I exceeded the bore when honing them out. I wasn’t complaining nearly sympathizing...

I didn't mean to sound like I was being critical, I wasn't. Don't feel bad, you just learned a maintenance hard lesson. Check around for your next parts purchase, might save you a ton of money.