Lots of cars have a combination of brake discs and brake drums. If it’s like this on your car, sooner or later, you may encounter symptoms of a bad drum brake cylinder.
This cylinder has the task of spreading the brake shoes within the brake drum, causing friction and thus braking.
The brake drum cylinder is driven by hydraulic power from the brake pedal and master cylinder.
In this article, you’ll see how to recognize this kind of problem and perhaps avoid bigger issues.
Besides this website, you can also watch videos on our YouTube channel, where we have many car-related videos that may help with maintenance, driving, etc.
SYMPTOMS OF A BAD DRUM BRAKE CYLINDER
1. LOWER BRAKE FLUID LEVEL
One of the first symptoms of a bad drum brake cylinder that you’ll easily notice is a low brake fluid level in the container.
Because of this, you’ll have to add brake fluid all the time.
The most common cause of problems is that the inner seals of the cylinder start to leak due to material fatigue. The fluid then leaks inside the brake drum, and this causes the level to go down all the time.
As the problem gets worse, you’ll have to add braking fluid more frequently.
2. LEAKS ON THE BRAKE DRUM AND WHEEL
Next, you’ll probably see traces of brake fluid on the inner side of the drum and the wheel rim.
At first, it will be just moisture later it can become a very noticeable leak.
When you see this, best to immediately take action and inspect the brake drums.
3. THE HANDBRAKE DOES NOT HOLD
Among other symptoms of a bad brake cylinder is a weak handbrake.
Instead of the firm grip that it usually has, the handbrake will barely hold.
The reason for this is that the bad cylinder cannot spread the brake shoes enough, and they can’t hold the drum.
You can best see this if you test the handbrake on a hill; it will barely hold the car.
4. THE BRAKE PEDAL SINKS
Besides a weak handbrake, you may also experience a sinking brake pedal.
If the cylinder is leaking, this causes a loss of hydraulic pressure within the system, and the pedal loses resistance.
The sinking can be occasional, but it will get worse as the leak gets bigger.
If you start completely losing braking power, click here to read an article on what you can do.
5. BAD BRAKE PERFORMANCE
The last of the symptoms of a bad drum brake cylinder on this list is, logically, bad brake performance.
This includes a longer stopping distance and having to pump the brake pedal occasionally to achieve braking power.
When these symptoms appear, you must inspect the problem as soon as possible, since it is a matter of safety.
CONCLUSION
Regarding a bad drum brake cylinder, the moment you notice a low brake fluid level, react.
Also, if the handbrake doesn’t hold properly and you see a leak on the drum brake, the drum cylinder is the probable cause.
Solve it as soon as possible, since a leaking drum cylinder will leak fluid on the brake shoes, and you’ll have to change them also.
In this case, the sooner you notice the problem the better, both in terms of safety but also cost.
Written by: Sibin Spasojevic
Former car technician, life-long car and DIY enthusiast, author for Despairrepair.com
Leave a Reply