Wheel cylinders - repair or replace

[martinclan]

I stripped my rear wheel cylinders - more to see what size they were (5/8") than a view to repairing them. But I was suprised to see all the internals were fine and the hydraulic connections all came out OK.

Now new wheel cylinders are cheap as chips so is it worth overhauling the originals? The reason I ask is I have been bitten before with very poor quaility replacement wheel cylinders and wondered if those generally available for the Marina are OK?

Cheers, Robin

[david painter]

I am mot a big believer in resealing master and wheel cylinders as something caused the seals to fail in first place so at least honing bore before re sealing 5/8 single piston wheel cylinders were used on a lot of cars in the 70/80s as such some decent quality parts are available from reputable suppliers I would avoid the cheap ebay wing wang ones though.
Dave

[balmy]

For sake of £20 you might as well replace.
This month I bought these Borg and Beck from here.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wheel-Cylind ... 635-2958-0

[Gee tc]

I found that most of the ' new ' stuff I fitted to my own failed. Quickly too.
However, the original stuff refurbed still looks well and works.
My rear cylinders were honed out and resealed and still don't leak and perform seven years on.
I should point out that at the time I didn't realise that my version is using dolomite Sprint cylinders at the time so it was more out of necessity than availability.
T

[KwS]

I rekitted my original ones (one of which had previously been replaced anyway). Bore was good, just needed new seals. I think there is a certain pride in refurbishing original parts instead of replacing them, but I'm weird like that.

[martinclan]

So.... I purchased a couple of Quinten Hazel wheel cylinders. Why QH? - they were the only branded ones I could find with the correct 5/8 bore.
The quality of the casting is rubbish. It looks like the mould was a copy of a copy of a copy.... Specifically the 4 pads on which the cylinders slide on the backplate were almost non existent and not at all flat. And the notch in which the handbrake lever sits was very poorly formed. I had to take the dremel and file to them and even after that they were not great.
Hmm. I may look again....
Cheers Robin

[JubileeNut]

When I restored my car and replaced all the hydraulics with new parts (Unipart) I refilled with Silicone brake fluid which does not corrode and has been in the system for 11 years, no leaks and no corrosion.

[IVOR DENNEY]

HI Paul its Ivor do you have to replace the rubbers before you can use silicone fluid, plus is it wright it doesn't damage your paint work .

[martinclan]

Silicon and conventional brake fluid doesn't mix. Its probably best to only change to silicon after the braking hydraulics have been completely replaced.
Cheers Robin

[JubileeNut]

Yes best done if all the hydraulics are new.
does not hurt paint but you still do not wont it on your paint, mainly if you want to paint it again as you have to clean it very well to get the silicon off or the next coat will not be good. But at least if it leaks or you spill some there is no issues