Replaced the fronts last weekend so think I will do the rears soon.


Planning to replace shoes, drums, and hardware parts but am wondering if I should replace the cylinders or leave them alone since they are not leaking.


Cylinders would only add $25 to the job, would be simple to do so one thought is do it. On the other hand sometimes replacement parts have a shorter life and I may be better off leaving them alone.


So what say you who have do the rear brake job?

 

Everyone is gonna have a different opinion but if you going in, just go ***** deep now. Best advice youll get is take a detailed picture of the hardware setup. Because many people forget the layout to reinstall everything.

 

honestly, if they're not leaking, i wouldn't bother. chances are you will snap a line, then you will have to replace and bleed.
just clean them up with a wire brush and brake cleaner when all hardware is off.

 

Agreed. When I did the rear brakes on my 96, I thought one wheel cylinder was leaking, so picked up a couple to swap them out, and it turned out to be the brake line itself, right at the fitting that goes in to the cylinder. The fittings were so nasty anyways, even if the brake lines weren't leaking, there was no way I was getting them off without totally mangling them. If you do decide to replace the cylinders, I would pick up the brake line and just plan on replacing that too.

 

Did my rears and 3 months later a cylinder leaked. Had to tear them all down again as the hardware and shoes were covered in fluid. Do it once while you have it apart. Cheap preventative maintenance.

 

my suggestion is a zj rear disc swap.

 

Tip on brakes is to do one side at a time, no pics needed.

Course I learned that long before camera phones, LOL

 

JMHO but I would do them also and have it all done just buy local and name brand parts. Don't forget to have the new drums turned just a little to get rid of any small problems, and yes some do have them when NEW.

 

Never occurred to me to slightly turn the new drums, I have done 4-5 drum brake jobs on old VW's, never turned them.

 

Since you have everything out i would change and save yourself a headache with possibly leaking later

 

Back when i had drums, long ago in a galaxy far away, i had a seal go without notice. Looked clean and fine bought 2 months prior. Had no brakes. Had to limp jeep back home 15 miles in traffic. Either convert to discs or have your piece of mind. But these are just Our honest opinions and some crap that happened to us

 

I did have to replace a leaky cylinder to pass the state safety inspection, it is not hard to do so if you have them apart why not but I did wind up snapping a brake line in the process. In regards to the photos, check with your local library, mine has access to alldata. I printed the pictures off for less than a $1.00.

 

I bought everything at Advance Auto Parts but cylinders, there was only one in stock, Karma? I am still deciding if I will replace them.

Guess I will take a look and see the condition of my brake lines and spray some blaster on the threads that connect the lines to the cylinders. It may be a few weeks before I have time to do the job.

 

How much was everything?

My vote is discs. Duhh. Right? But once you've converted you will wonder why you didn't do it sooner.

You live in NC & unless you live on the coast you should have very little, if any, rust. Replace the cylinders for peace of mind. I'd get them from Napa.

Good luck. Drums are not fun.

 

Drums, Shoes, and a hardware kit totaled $86.00 thanks to Advance Auto Parts discount codes. Figure another $25.00 for 2 new cylinders I am going to buy.