Hey guys, my rear brake drum is covered in thick oil when I remove the drum and my rear brakes are noticeably weak. Now, can I be sure that this is the wheel cylinder leaking, or could it be coming from somewhere else?

 

If it were your wheel cylinder your brake pedal would be dropping and not hold it's pressure.
It could be your axle seal leaking. Pull the plug on your diff. cover and see if you can touch the fluid with your finger through the hole. If not it's low, and the axle seal is the probable source of the fluid in your drum. If so, remove and replace the seal, and check and refill the diff. I'd suggest replacing the brake shoes as they are contaminated. Clean the drums and everything else with brake-kleen before reassembly.
Dan

 

does the fluid stink like an old pair of dirty underwear found in a wet cardboard box in a dark alley on the far side of new jersey? if so, it's your axle seal. if not, it's your wheel cylinder.

 

That's hilarious....nothing like the smell of gear oil!!!

 

X2

 

X3. It does smell nasty. Even new.

 

LMAO

What part SeaCaucus!

 

The smell is not too pleasant. Is the correct seal listed here?http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/web...Term=axle+seal

 

for 8.25 rear axle - part # 8516N
for d35c rear axle - part # 8660S or 714675

 

even if the wheel cylinders are leaking you can still have some braking power. pull your wheel cylinders and pull back the rubber boot a tiny lil' bit. if a lot of fluid comes out when you do that then its the wheel cylinders. if only a tiny lil' bit comes out then you can be pretty sure its not them. but by the sound of it, its the wheel cylinders.

 

you could also tell cause brake fluid is very thin liquid and will not stick around, likes to seep everywhere, gear oil is very think, it will feel like oil, brake fluid will feel like you washed your hands too many times and have no oil left on them