QuestionQUESTION: I was wondering how to take off my wheel cylinder on my 1992 cadillac deville. I need to replace the wheel cylinder. I read that taking the drum apart is dangerous is that true. Also do you have any pictures if not thats fine. Thanks.
ANSWER: Hello,
Dangerous? How so? Not sure what you mean by taking it apart? It has been far too long since I have removed a brake drum from specifically a 1992 Cadillac Deville, but I don't remember anything that stands out to me. To my knowledge, there are 2 types of drums.
Bearing assembly/hub and the floater.I
When I say "floater, I am referring to the drum fits directly on the wheel lugs.
I believe what you have on the 1992 Deville is a tin cap that has to be removed, then the cotter pin has to be removed, then the educated nut (I don't know why it is called that) which fits over the nut. The nut is removed. There is a large washer with a tang that fits only one way and that is removed. Pull on the drum and the outer bearing comes out. Remove the bearing. Put nut back on and pull on the drum outward catching the nut on the inner bearing, removing the seal and bearing. Remove drum. Remove grease with rag and brake kleen.
This would be the only type of taking a drum apart I can think of and I have no clue as to what someone would refer to as danger.
Seal kit is less than $20 for both sides. Send drums out for machining. Clean the center hub and races of grease and spay with brake kleen, wiping everything with lint free rag. Glean bearings Pack bearings with grease and and install seals and reinstall pre-loading bearing. Install educated nut lining up hole for cotter pin. Install cotter pin, bend ends. Tap tin hub cap on.
The other type is a floater in which, once the wheel is removed, the drum is pulled off and that is it.
So, only one style do you have to remove the bearings and I see no danger here.
http://www.autotheftexpert.com
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QUESTION: Someone told me that I could just disconnect the brake line and then remove the bolts in the back and after I do that I should be able to pull it out. Is this true.
ANSWER: Hello,
I am not sure where you are getting your information, but the wheel and drum have to come off to access the arms attached to the brake shoes that spread the shoes against the inside of the drum.
The only way you will understand how this works is to remove the ddrum. Besides, the wheel cylinder is bolted through the backing plate and how exactly could your remove the wheel cylinder from the inside of the drum to the outside of that backing plate.
If in fact you are reading such garbage stating such instructions, it is a perfect reason as to why there is so much inaccurate information on the web.
Unless you take this apart, all the information out there right or wrong will do you no good.
I have told you about as much as I can on this subject.
Good luck.
http://www.autotheftexpert.com
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: What I was trying to get at was I know you have to take the tire off and the drum off. That is common sense. Then he told me to disconnect the brake line. After you disconnect the brake line he told me to remove the two bolts off the backing plate and then I would be able to remove the wheel cylinder. He said he has done it like that for years. He also said if I get brake fluid on the shoes then I would have to take everything apart.
AnswerHello,
I too have done it for years (over 30). If you get fluid on glazed lining, you don't have to take everything apart, and all you need to do is spray (Brake Kleen) on the area and sand the lining evenly until the brake lining material is showing evenly around.
However, as I said, you have a 20 year old car with 20 year old hardware that should be changed because attaching springs do break from age. I personally don't like to have to do a job over and that is what you are looking to do if you don't change the hardware.
It sounds like you are speaking to others on this job you want to partake on. Then why ask me?
Whoever you are talking to has his procedures and I have mine. Neither is wrong, but it is kind of wasting my time or his then.
I don't care what some other tech says when it comes to something so basic.
I volunteer my valuable time here. I went through everything you needed to know and then you are asking someone else as well.
I see no point in me addressing anything more on this issue.
Http://www.autotheftexpert.com
