Your wheel cylinder plays a vital role in your car’s drum braking system. And while it isn’t known to fail often, when it does, you need to get it fixed ASAP.
But why does your wheel cylinder fail in the first place? And how is a wheel cylinder replacement performed?
We’ll answer both of those questions in this article.
We’ll also go through the tell-tale signs of a faulty wheel cylinder, highlight a simple wheel cylinder replacement solution and cover some related FAQs.
Let’s get started.
Your vehicle’s wheel cylinder has moving parts that are subject to wear and tear over time.
Here are some typical ways that the wheel cylinder fails:
Without a fully functioning wheel cylinder, your drum brake won’t work.
That’s why, if you spot any of these symptoms, you’d want a mechanic to check your problem drum brake ASAP.
Curious about what your mechanic will do once you bring your car to a repair shop?
Before we go into the replacement process, note that wheel cylinders are always replaced in pairs, even if one doesn’t have problems.
Why?
Wheel cylinders don’t fail often, but if one goes bad, the matching pair is likely not too far behind it in wear and tear. That’s why it’s always better to be proactive and replace both.
To begin the replacement, your mechanic will need several items:
Here’s an overview of the brake wheel cylinder replacement process.
Your mechanic will:
Note: Your drum brakes must always be adjusted after a wheel cylinder or brake shoe replacement. This ensures the brake shoes sit at an optimum distance from the brake drum.
Now that you know why your wheel cylinder may require replacement and how it’s done, let’s cover some FAQs.
We’ll look at some answers to queries you may have about wheel cylinders.
The wheel cylinder is a metal cylinder usually made of cast iron or aluminum.
Inside the wheel cylinder bore, you’ll find:
Two more important components are located at the center of the brake wheel cylinder.
They are:
How does the wheel cylinder work?
Each wheel cylinder piston is attached to a shaft connected to a brake shoe. When you step on the brake pedal, hydraulic pressure from the master cylinder pushes the pistons outwards, bringing the brake shoes into contact with the rotating brake drum, stopping your wheels.
No.
A vehicle can have disc brakes on their rear axles too, but they’re a bit more expensive than drum brakes. That’s why you’ll usually find a drum brake on the rear wheels of economy cars or light trucks, as they’re cost-effective and a reliable option for rear braking.
Note: Because drum brakes are usually at the rear, the drum brake wheel cylinder is often referred to as the rear wheel cylinder.
No, the wheel cylinder isn’t designed to wear out like brake shoes or brake pads.
However, its seals can break and leak over time.
It’s always advisable to replace the wheel cylinder during a brake shoe replacement, as this will avoid additional labor and workshop time.
Additionally, new brake shoes are thicker, so pushing them can create extra stress on an old wheel cylinder — causing it to fail and necessitating a replacement anyway.
Here are some common symptoms accompanying a bad wheel cylinder:
A brake pedal that feels soft or sinks to the vehicle floor indicates a drop in hydraulic pressure. You’ll also notice poor brake response while braking. This can result from a brake fluid leak in the brake system — like a broken wheel cylinder seal.
Loud grinding noises can come from brake shoes that aren’t receiving even pressure from a faulty wheel cylinder.
Any brake fluid leaking on the rear wheels or pooling near them can point to a leaking brake wheel cylinder.
Ideally, you should get your wheel cylinders checked at least once a year, or whenever the rear wheels are off. Also, get them checked if the brake warning lights come on.
The brake wheel cylinder is a relatively simple component, but replacing it isn’t a straightforward task.
Because of how the drum brake functions, many pieces need to be removed and reinstalled correctly, even if you’re changing a bad wheel cylinder.
Your best bet is to secure the services of a trustworthy mechanic who’ll give you a reliable overview of your drum brakes, get your wheel cylinder replaced and your brakes adjusted correctly.
To that end, make sure that the mechanic is:
Fortunately, you don’t have to look too far as RepairSmith ticks all those boxes (and more)!
RepairSmith is a convenient mobile vehicle repair and maintenance solution that offers these benefits:
For an accurate estimate of the cost for brake wheel cylinder replacement and repairs, fill this online form.
The cost will vary based on the make and model of the vehicle, and your location.
But in general, it’ll average between $200-$350.
To give you an idea, here are some examples of average dealer prices:
If you’re going to purchase a wheel cylinder yourself, there are certain things you should look out for.
The wheel cylinder should:
To save yourself the hassle, let your mechanic figure out which brake wheel cylinder is right for your vehicle.
Yes, wheel cylinders can be rebuilt instead of replaced.
However, most professional technicians will recommend a replacement as rebuilding takes time, and there’s always a risk of additional problems.
The material of the brake cylinder also drives this decision.
An aluminum wheel cylinder must always be replaced as honing it (to smoothen the bore) will remove the anodized coating that keeps it corrosion-free.
A wheel cylinder replacement can be a fairly complex process. However, it’s one that you shouldn’t ignore. To make things simple, let a mechanic handle it, and your vehicle’s brakes will be back in perfect shape in no time.
To make things even easier, just contact RepairSmith.
Their ASE-certified technicians will be at your door in no time to take care of your wheel cylinder issues!
