Brake shoe replacement screw up

[mattmctree@gmail.com]

So I am in the midst of replacing cylinders and shoes and stupid me pumped the brakes without the drums on and one of the pistons in the brake cylinder popped out and was leaking fluid. The New shoes got a bit of brake fluid on them. Are they toast ? Salvageable? Stupid mistakes. Oh well live a learn. They are on a Suzuki sj410 so hopefully not toast as I had to get them from Australia 

[mattmctree@gmail.com]

I tried uploading a picture but I guess the file was too large. I will try again in the morning 

[datzenmike]

If you completely clean the wheel cylinder parts you can assemble them and it will be fine. Do NOT use any petroleum solvents, brake cleaner is ok.

 

We had a CLARK lift truck at work that dribbled brake fluid. Shoes were covered. They wanted $700 to flat bed it away and fix. I was the plant manager and didn't care about the cost, but I did care that we would be without the lift for weeks. I went to Canadian Tire and on the shelf found  3/4" wheel cylinder seal rebuild kits for a '50s Rambler or Studebaker for $2.50 each and rebuilt them. The shoes were totally and thoroughly soaked with brake fluid. I heated them with a propane torch and burned and dried them off.  They smoked a bit but once dried off worked just fine.

[mattmctree@gmail.com]

Much appreciated . I will try the propane torch to dry them off as well. On another note, I'm using a vaccum hand pump to bleed the brakes and they sure can be finicky.

[datzenmike]

If you feel this is risky then just replace them. Mine were soaking wet from months of leaking of  not just contaminated. It left brake fluid everywhere it was parked and eventually the brake wouldn't stop the thing and it was a danger.

[mattmctree@gmail.com]

I put a torch to them this morning and the oil all burnt off. Seem to be just fine.thankfully. 

Thanks for the tip

[datzenmike]

Check later. The fluid may seep out. I got the impression that the shoes were sort of porous. Get the cylinders together ok?

[mattmctree@gmail.com]

I put a torch to them this morning and the oil all burnt off. Seem to be just fine.thankfully. 

Thanks for the tip.

I took the cylinder apart cleaned them up and popped the pistons back in. They seem to be fine . 

[mattmctree@gmail.com]

Well. It happened again. To the other side with the brake drums on this time. Looks like I needed to use the bottom adjusters to back out to put more pressure on the pistons. More torch and more cleaning. Oh well . At least I'll get some practicing in. 

[datzenmike]

Let them sit a while, see if anything oozes out.

[mattmctree@gmail.com]

Popping the pistons back in the cylinder shouldn't cause them to leak correct? They are brand new cylinders.

[datzenmike]

Not on new ones. 

[mattmctree@gmail.com]

Well I got everything cleaned , put back together and my son helped me bleed the brake lines. I just need to get some brake adjuster return springs and should be good to go. The torch method worked great for the fluid on the shoes by the way. Thanks