The wheel brake cylinder is an important part of the braking system of cars with a drum brake. This ensures that braking force can be exerted on the brake drum. In this way the vehicle is braked. A leak or failing wheel brake cylinder can cause unsafe situations because the braking distance is extended or because it is no longer possible to brake at all. Therefore, be sure to check this part regularly and replace or overhaul it if necessary.
Wheel brake cylinder leaking
Over time, the wheel brake cylinder can leak. This brake cylinder works on the basis of brake fluid. As soon as the brake pedal is pressed, brake fluid is pumped towards the brake system. This puts pressure on the wheel brake cylinder, which then pushes the brake shoe against the drum. Due to wear or age, the brake cylinder can start to leak. In this case, the braking force will be greatly reduced. If you notice that the braking power of the car is decreasing, be sure to check the brake parts and replace or overhaul them if necessary. A leaking wheel brake cylinder can also be recognized by a sharply falling brake fluid level. You may find puddles of brake fluid under the rear of the car. Also, the car will tend to pull to one side when braking when a cylinder is leaking. This is because one side of the car now has less braking power.
Rebuild wheel brake cylinder
There are rubbers at the ends of the wheel brake cylinder. These are also called the bellows. In the event of a leak in the brake cylinder, you can choose to rebuild the cylinders. This means that the rubbers at the ends of the cylinder are replaced. These rebuild kits are especially suitable if you have an older car model, for which new wheel brake cylinders are scarce. In the case of newer car models, we advise you to replace a leaking brake cylinder in its entirety so that you can move forward for a while!
Replace wheel brake cylinder
You can replace a wheel brake cylinder yourself. This does require some technical insight and some material. For example, consider axle stands or a jack. The wheels of the car have to come off the ground so that the wheel in question can be removed. This gives you good access to the brake drum and the cylinder and you can mount the new brake cylinder in a controlled manner. We recommend that you replace the wheel brake cylinders per axle. Wear on the wheel brake cylinders is often the same. This prevents the car from having to be on the bridge again in a short time!
Buy wheel brake cylinder
You can easily find the right wheel brake cylinder for your vehicle with your number plate or car model. You can easily enter these on the website, the suitable car parts will then be displayed. Are you looking for brake discs, brake pads, brake caliper rebuild kits or brake calipers? These can also be found in our wide range!