I had brake fluid running out around the inside of the right rear tire..I pulled the drum off and looked to be a leaking wheel cylinder. I put a remanufactured one on and new shoes...it was late so I knew I couldnt get both sides done. I go to bleed the system and cant get any fluid to come out of the bleeder valve...after several tries I thought lets see about bleeding the left side that I neve touched and no fluid over there either. so ...pedal feels fine..all I have are front brakes....weird thing is the line leaked fluid while I was changing the wheel cylinder.... do I have a collapsed rear hose...from the frame line to the valve on the rear end???? whats your thoughts??

 

Without being there to actually look, there's a couple things to check in thst situation.

One, is it really brake fluid? Differential gear oil can also leak and soak brake parts. Mention this only to point that out. I'm sure you know brake fluid.

If you removed one or both wheel cylinders, you must bleed the system. No way around it. Sometimes if the shoes aren't ran up tight up against the drum with the self-adjuster the cylinder cups will cover up the fluid line and prevent bleeding. Wheel cylinders as you point out, should always be replaced in axle pairs.

 

when I pulled the drum off I could see where the fluid was coming from the wheel cylinder.
plus my master cylinder was low in fluid.
I tried to bleed the system...no fluid comes out of either side...new side (rt) or old side(lft).
I will replace the other side...I have all parts. but Im thinking the hose is collapsed????

 

Hoses could be bad, but usually they wouldn't be that restricted, not to flow in that direction anyway. Not a brake expert here though. Great time to replace brake hose though regardless.

 

yeah I agree with replacing the hose..Its still the original. Im going to replace the shoes and wheel cylinder on the left side now....and will do the hose tomorrow or Friday...I work close by so I dont mind driving it with just front brakes.

 

ok ...I picked up a new hose...had a idea to take the top line off first to see if i have fluid there. NO LUCK...dry and pedal still feels fine...not good but ok. so now what???? master cylinder looks to be new.

 

Sounds as if the line running from the RABS valve is either plugged or air entrapment in the RABS valve itself.

Pull the line off the RABS valve and see if fluid is coming out of it.
I had similar problem, but not with fluid. The RABS valve was bleeding off and allowing for a spongy/sinking brake pedal.

 

I do not know where the RABS is or what it is...rear anti braking system?

 

so the ABS dash light was coming on and off a few weeks ago....your saying this needs to be replaced? this is electric valve....but I guess it could have the fluid shut off to the rear???

 

He's saying you need to try bleeding the fluid down at the RABS valve.

 

Have you checked to see if it builds pressure at the master cylinder outlet? When you have a line blow the master cylinder plunger colapses blocking fluid to the leaking side. Sometimes they stick. I have gotten them unstuck by opening a front bleeder and slamming the pedal hard and fast. I have had to use very light pedal pressure while bleeding the rears until most of the air is out.

 

When I did replaced the drum brake wheel cylinder on my wife car and I went to bleed them with my Mityvac power bleeder at 10 psi. So with the pressure on I pump the brakes and a slug of black junk came out. I just bought a 1993 F150 and I know I am going to be doing the rear brakes so I am going to buy the adaptor to power bleed the brakes on my Ford,

 

i think i found my problem....there is a adapter or restrictor on the rear brake line coming out of the master cylinder...its clogged up...when I take it off I get fluid out of the MC...I put it back on and notinhing...whats this thing called ???

 

heres a pic....

 

Ford Master Cylinder Brake Proportioning Pressure Regulator Control Valve | eBay

can mine be cleaned out?