Brake fluid leaking back tire

andrewf09 · 03-03-2010, 11:31 AM

Last week I notice fluid leaking on the inside of the back left tire.

I was thinking it might be break fluid. Could it be something else?

humbert810 · 03-03-2010, 11:32 AM

More then likely its your wheel cylinder on the back left drum.

**rustywrangler** · 03-03-2010, 11:36 AM

For less than $40, Grab yourself Twp rear wheel cylinder and new hard lines because I almost garantee you are going to need to replace the line when you replace the blow cylinder. Measure the line on the axle and get the closest preterminated line. Doesn't take much to bend them into place and only costs you a few bucks. Also grab a bottle of brake fluid.

You are going to have to master the art of removing almost all of the rear drum hardware to get the damn thing out though.

YES, the wheel cylinder is 99% your problem when you see fluid like that.

You don't HAVE to replace both but may as well while you are doing it. You have to bleed the system anyway.

Also remember that on the YJ, you can get away with just bleeding the rear brakes because of the divided master res and prop valve.

muddy93 · 03-03-2010, 01:12 PM

Before buying parts, pull the wheel and drum, and confirm that it is in fact brake fluid.
It could be a leaking axle seal.

Castr8r · 03-03-2010, 08:54 PM

Get yer camera and take pics of the brake assembly before you break it down. Things can go together several ways, but will only work when properly assembled. Refer to yer pics as you put it back together.

andrewf09 · 03-04-2010, 07:55 AM

My brakes definitely need some new hardware and lines. I was thinking about buying the overhaul kits(drum, disc), are they worth it?

Muddy93, that's a good idea. Thanks

ZeroGravity · 03-04-2010, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrewf09

Last week I notice fluid leaking on the inside of the back left tire.

I was thinking it might be break fluid. Could it be something else?

Smell it. I don't think fresh brake fluid smells like anything, but I know used gear oil smells terrible. You would probably smell gear oil just being near the fluid.

Truth · 03-04-2010, 09:30 AM

Brake fluid certainly has a smell. But it's obviously much thinner than gear lube. If the brake pedal isn't terribly low, or going to the floor, I'd bet it's gear lube.

Aero540t · 03-04-2010, 10:10 AM

Yeah gear oil has sulfur in it and will smell as such. I had the same problem last summer and it was my passenger wheel cylinder. I decided to replace the cylinder as well as the hard line. My brake shoes were good but the hardware probably could have been replaced, but I decided not to mess with them. Regardless I did it myself and felt pretty good about myself being a noob mechanic! Don't bother buying a tube bender, it was a waste of money, bend it by hand, but be careful

pasinbuy · 03-04-2010, 02:15 PM

Just last week I replaced my rear brakes, drums, cylinders, and shoes. Cost me about $130.00 all new.

I had to use vice grips to remove the brake line from the wheel cylinder, just don't squeeze to hard and PB blast the brake line the day before.

Do one at a time so that you can look at the other if you get stuck on what goes where.

**Mean Max** · 03-04-2010, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrewf09

My brakes definitely need some new hardware and lines. I was thinking about buying the overhaul kits(drum, disc), are they worth it?

Muddy93, that's a good idea. Thanks

I KNEW I should have taken pics & done another write-up!

Just this past Sunday I replaced both wheel cylinders, the brake shoes, the hard lines, and installed a new hardware kit on the rear axle of the wife's '93 YJ. I was just in a big hurry & I didn't take the time to do it.

On the other hand, it all cost under $60 total.

Max

**Feetwet** · 03-04-2010, 04:18 PM

You're slippin Max. You could have documented a very useful tech procedure for the FAQs and added to the legend of that mean guy from Florida....

I forgot to take pics when I rebuilt my brakes from the master back...

**Mean Max** · 03-04-2010, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Feetwet

You're slippin Max. You could have documented a very useful tech procedure for the FAQs and added to the legend of that mean guy from Florida....

I really do regret not doing one.

For what it's worth, I bought the straight lengths of brake line that have the fittings already on them. The left side brake line was a 20" line, and the right side SHOULD have been a 40" line, but they were out of stock and I got stuck with a 50" line.

I will be changing that one again!

Max

joshbaker92yj · 03-04-2010, 04:24 PM

yea mine went out last month but you dont have to take apart everything just a little bit of it. Its not that bad.

**Feetwet** · 03-04-2010, 04:39 PM

I went with preterminated lines also. I bought a little tubing bender for about 12 bucks and it worked great. I'd hate to have to feed anything longer than 48" into all the bends and whoop de doos to get from A to B....