F'd up while working on drum brakes. Help?

While cleaning and adjusting the rear drum brakes on the left rear of my 3rd gen, wanted to make sure the shoes were moving adequately when pressing down on the brake pedal.

When I pressed down on the brake pedal (with the drum cover OFF), the cylinder pistons over extended and a bit of brake fluid leaked out. I don't think enough leaked to cause any worry, but the pistons are stuck in their extended position and I cannot figure out how to get them to retract.

This is my first time working on drums so please go easy, but below is a pic of how the truck currently sits and I need it for work in the morning lol

Thanks!

 

If it was me i'd replace the wheel cylinders and bleed the brakes. Air could have been sucked back in when the pedal came back up

 

Really? God damn it... I don't have the means to do any of that myself. Especially not tonight. Also have a road trip in 2 days. Can I drive it like this to a shop?

 

It looks like the right side can go out a little and just get the dust boot on. The other side should go back in if you use the strap mentioned and open bleeder valve slowly. Then put the boot back in place, replace drum and bleed that brake. Should take much to bleed.

 

Or big C-clamp to compress the pistons. If there is a Harbor Freight near the OP, they have a cheap set of large C-clamps that will do the job.

 

Just be lucky you didn't do that with the front brakes, those pistons are pretty damn near impossible to get back in once unseated. And as sugested a big c clamp or wood working clamp may work for you

 

The left shoe looks like it moved off the guide pass so you may have to pull it out just a little on the outer edge to get it back on top. This might be why it wont push in.

 

I'd replace the wheel cylinder , you blew out the seals.

 

@Bishop84

 

Wouldn't it continue to leak fluid if the seals were blown? It was very very little fluid that came out.

 

I've never bled brakes before in my life. Where is the bleed valve? And how does that work?

 

To adjust drum brakes: back up and apply brakes. They have self adjusters.

Edit: Do this when brakes are fully assembled.

 

Sounds like you need a buddy with some mechanical abilities and some tools. The bleeder is located on the back side of the wheel cylinder.

 

I don't think you blew the seals but may have over extended the left piston. The seals are just 2 cups on the inner side of piston. The outer boots are just dust boots.

 

Doesn't work on mine. When I had the rear brakes fully replaced about a year ago, they never adjusted the parking brake and it was out of adjustment so far that this method would never work. My parking brake hasn't worked since and I've been blowing through front pads like nothing, leading me to believe my front brakes have been doing all the work ever since...

 

If you saw any brake fluid leak out that's a BAD thing , a little or a lot it's not good.

 

I agree with the strap... I don’t think you will get them to compress without releasing some pressure by opening up the bleeder valve a bit. Also should always at least plan and be able to bleed the brakes after working on them. Not something you want to risk not working correctly by having air in the system.

 

Blew a Seal??!! Oh my, let's let them have a little privacy.

Can't really say that the wheel cylinder is trash though, remember back in the day we used to use brake hones on them and put in rebuild kits. Likely this one will be okay with cracking the bleeder valve and gently pushing the pistons back in and reseating the rubber caps. Then of course, bleed the brakes, etc. OP, hope this works out for you. There's a first time for everything.

 

I understand. However the situation I'm in means I don't have any way to get to work in 10 hours. I need to do whatever it takes to get this thing at least to a shop in the morning a few miles away.

 

Theres star adjusters in the drums that need to be adjusted to take up the slack and then backing up would work but only after they have been manually adjusted at the star wheel.