Replace a rear wheel cylinder

Tiny
KELLYSTEVENS
  • MEMBER
  • 1996 PONTIAC SUNFIRE
  • 197,818 MILES
I need to know how to replace a rear wheel cylinder in rear passenger side of my sunfire
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Sunday, March 10th, 2013 AT 4:37 PM

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Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 107,922 POSTS
To start, spray all bolts and brake lines with a penetrating fluid. Next, safely lift the rear of the vehicle and support it with jack stands. Remove the wheel and brake drum and brake shoes. Next, remove the brake hose from the rear of the wheel cylinder and then remove the two bolts that hold it in place. Remove the old wheel cylinder and install the new one in the reverse order. Once it is replaced and the brake hose and brakes are put back together, you will need to bleed the wheel cylinder. Open the bleeder valve until fluid begins to come out. (NOTE: Make sure the master cylinder always has fluid in it) Then close the bleeder. Have a helper pump the brakes 5 or 6 times and then hold pressure on the brake pedal while you open the bleeder. When you open it, fluid and air will come out and the brake pedal will go to the floor. Tell the helper not to release the brake pedal until you close the bleeder. Do this until no air comes out and only a stream of fluid comes out.

Here is a guide to help you do the job.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-a-wheel-cylinder

Please let us know if you need anything else to get the problem fixed.

Cheers

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Sunday, March 10th, 2013 AT 7:10 PM
Tiny
SHADODANCR
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1995 PONTIAC SUNFIRE
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
95 pontiac sunfire 2.2 how to remove rear wheel cylinder. The brace that holds the return springs is in the way & I cant figure out how to get the brace or wheel cylinder off. My haynes auto book was no help. I was going to remove hub but found it is one piece with back plate. Was going to hammer the pins out of the brace but thought bad idea. Tried gently prying the brace off of pins. It didnt move. I took the spring & boots from new cylinder & put into old. But inside of old cylinder too bad & would not allow movement. Im a woman who knows enough to be dangerous. Ive replaced cylinders in older cars before & never had this kinda problem. :-( Heeeelp!
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Wednesday, August 22nd, 2018 AT 4:12 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
Remove the brake shoes, first. Picture below. I give the same info to guys or gals.
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Wednesday, August 22nd, 2018 AT 4:12 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
I haven't looked at the abs system, where applicable, release fluid pressure, before taking anything loose.
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Wednesday, August 22nd, 2018 AT 4:12 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
As far as those top springs, I use a pair of vice-grips, grab the long neck on the top spring, pull it off the pin, and so on.
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Wednesday, August 22nd, 2018 AT 4:12 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ONEFASTNEONRT
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
JDL, what application is your picture from?
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Wednesday, August 22nd, 2018 AT 4:12 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
That question is from 2011, I believe that picture came from my database. I'm not supposed to use picture from my database, I'm supposed to use the site database, Mitchel.

I believe that picture came from a library database, ebscohost, I believe. Some libraries carry automotive databases, and at least one of their databases you can access on your home computer for free, if you live in an area they serve. If you live outside area, you can buy access for a small yearly fee, that's what I do. That is info on every year--make--model that they cover. Not the best info, but better than nothing.

Was the picture wrong?
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Wednesday, August 22nd, 2018 AT 4:12 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ONEFASTNEONRT
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Sorry for the really late response JDL. No your picture is fine, it looks just like the brakes on a Cushman vehicle I have. I was trying to cross reference it the picture to the application. Thank you.
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Wednesday, August 22nd, 2018 AT 4:12 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JAGERMONSTER1977
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1996 PONTIAC SUNFIRE
  • 109,000 MILES
I've tried everything and the wheel cylinder is not coming out I took the brakes off and found that the back plate is seems to be one piece and cant figure out how to get the cylinder out it seems to bi put together around the wheel cylinder and ive done alot of brake jobs but cant seem to figure out how to get this one out.
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Wednesday, August 22nd, 2018 AT 4:13 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,758 POSTS
You have to loosen up the hub assembly so the cylinder will fit between the hub and the backing plate.
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Wednesday, August 22nd, 2018 AT 4:13 PM (Merged)

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