Me and my freind were cleaning my brake drum today. So we removed the wheel and the drum(with a fair amount of effort). We sprayed out the drum and cleaned it.
We put the drum back on by pulling the pads towards us and slid it on. Then we proceeded to bolt the rim back on and tighten it all down.
We tested the brakes and it started pissing brake fluid everywhere.
Pulled it back off and it looks like the cylender in the drum is the problem area, or at least the hose getting to it. So now the brakes are totally f*cked and im out of a car.
ANY ideas on whats the problem, how to fix it, and how boned i am?
No big deal all of us have had bad days. When I was 18 I chained a scrap semi-trailer to a crane to remove it wrong way. Chain broke under strain. Crane boom went over cab of crane and was in multi pieces. I got to help welder fix it the next week. Things happen If inside the drum. Go get you a new wheel cylinder not a kit. I think less than 10 dollars. If can get a proper size wrench to fit the brake line fitting easy to round off. The best to use is a flare nut wrench. Replace it and brakes and bleed the brakes. A few dollars but remember its yours and other's life.
Like the oter poster said, all you need to do is replace that cylinder IF that is the culprit. Check to see if the fluid is leaking from the Dust Boot. Id replace the flexible hose and cylinder anyhow due to age, unless you want to buy a rebuild kit and re-hone the cylinder. If it were you, i would replace both cylinders in each drum as well as both flexible hoses for preventive maintenance. You did not say if you replaced the shoes and drums either, but if you have the money, you may as well do that as well as replacing the Return Springs.
I was just cleaning the drum and checking for wear, as i wasnt sure what condition they were in. So i didnt replace anything yet.
But since im getting a sizeable paycheck friday i may as well just totally overhaul the rear end brakes anyways. New cylinders, shoes, flexible hoses and drums for the rear end then. I was getting a bit annoyed at my underpowered rear end brakes.