brake cylinders

eagle64 · Post by **eagle64** » Mon Apr 13, 2015 3:29 pm

As I removed the old brake lines I notice not a drop of fluid in them.
Of course the master cylinder was missing. But that got me to thinking of the wheel brake cylinders. Who knows how long it has been sense they have had fluid in them, what shape they might be in. It is something that can be worked on easily once the jeep is back together. But I don't want brake problems either.
replace now or wait and see? is the question. Of course they look good nothing has been in them for some time.
looking for thoughts on this.

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Mon Apr 13, 2015 4:09 pm

Hi Steve,
My master was beyond repair, the lines were rusted with orange
goo inside, and the cylinders were greasy and rusty.

I decided to skip a lot of work and questions later and replaced
everything.

My guess is if your lines have been open for some time
then the wheel cylinders have also been exposed to the atmosphere.
For the money I'd buy replacements and spend the time
it saves for something you can save some money on with sweat
equity.

Just my two cents.

Bretto · Post by **Bretto** » Mon Apr 13, 2015 7:20 pm

I'd have to guess they are not road worthy at this stage.
Only can find out by pulling them out and taking them apart and looking at the bores, that's if the pistons aren't seized. Sometimes you can salvage them with honing them if they aren't too bad.
Back when I did mine I honed and rebuilt all 4. Only 2 held, the other 2 leaked and so just replaced them.

skyjeep50 · Post by **skyjeep50** » Tue Apr 14, 2015 7:49 am

My M38's brakes worked when I brought it home but I also found orange goo in the master cylinder. Since that goo was throughout the brake system I assumed that all parts were compromised or would fail even if cleaned up. Brake cylinders are fairly inexpensive and you have to admit, they are pretty important parts that need to work. So I changed out everything - master, wheel cylinders, lines and hoses. And at the same time pulled apart the axle assemblies, cleaned them out, inspected bearings and differentials, put in new seals and brake shoes, blasted and painted everything and reassembled and lubed to specs. In the end, the cylinders were a minor factor.

eagle64 · Post by **eagle64** » Tue Apr 14, 2015 1:15 pm

I decided to put new wheel cylinders in, with everything else new I didn't think it was worth messing with the old ones and contaminating the rest of the brake system.
lots of new parts to start putting on. I sure hope that's the end of getting parts for now. It will be nice to get something completed on the jeep, I still have a lot of parts to clean.