Ok,

Yes the story is true....my brakes went out on me today as i came to an intersection while a small child was crossing the road. was able to avoid it by dropping into first, and yanking the hell out of the E-brake. disaster averted.

as i sat there pumping my brake and feeling nothing but air, i began to wonder what was wrong? i had never had a problem with this car before.

the car in question:

'91 Civic LX Sedan. (Disc Front, Drum Rears)

So i limped it home and tried to find the problem. A leak had been spotted in the back left car (driver side rear) Got it up on the jack and began to take it apart. brake fluid reservoir was empty. (as it was all over my driveway). Took off my rear drum, and noticed that the brake (wheel?) cylinder was slightly bent. Ok, let me attempt to explain:

Picture rear drums:

Now you know there is a cylinder with two oposing pistons which push on the pads which in turn push into the drum to stop the car. it seems that the piston has been "bent" if you will and slipped off of the pad, allowing the piston to extend further than it should and allowing a leak to form. i was able to straighten out hte piston (its not techincally bent, but it was bent off of the pad) and put it back on the pad. i put a C-clamp on the pistons and pumped the brakes.....no leaks and started to get pedal feel back (mind you i need to bleed the system now).

my question is the following:

SHOULD the brake cylinder be replaced? i do NOT want this to happen again. or now that its straightened out will i be fine? What concerns me is that i dont know what caused it to slip off the pad to begin with! never had a problem in the 40k ive owned this car!

any ADVICE would help at this point.....

Pictured here in assembly 12/14 (that whole assembly)
http://www.hondaautomotivepart...BRAKE

 

Brakes are really really important. I would replace the unit to play it on the safe side and check for any other leaks.

Thank god for you man!

 

ya sounds like the wheel cylinder is causing your problems......replace it ASAP....

 

Yea, replace it. Might as well replace the other one as well, consider it preventative mantainence.

 

yes replace it.once it is over extended,it will always leak,done deal.