Freelander 1 Rear brake cylinder

Hi, fitted new brake shoes to back left then...couldn't get the new drum on. The self adjuster is as far back as it can go.I did finally get the drum on but it's really tight and the brake is dragging a bit. On closer inspection I'm starting to to think the problem is the brake cylinder. I can push in the piston on the leading shoe no bother but I can't shift the trailing shoe piston, I take it I should be able to push it in by hand? Maybe this explains why I had a helluva job getting the drum off on the first place.

Piston seized

Yup piston seized in the cylinder. They can be a swine to replace, remove the wheel and have a look how far the bleed screw is into the backplate and the condition of the bolts. If you can undo the bolts then great but my guess is you will not be able to.
I had to rotate the backplate to grind off the bolt heads. Also the brake pipe is normally rusted and needs replacing.
My advise check condition and plan ahead. If you have a look and report back I can give more advise if needed

Thanks for the advice. I did manage to shift the bleed screw at the weekend and then ran out of light. I'm off tomorrow morning so if it's dry I'll try to get the bolts off. I read another similar thread from 2010 and the owner took off the bolt heads with a chisel and lump hammer.

As suspected I couldn't get the bolts off with a socket, the heads just started to round off. So, cold chiseled the head off one no bother and then it started to rain. At least I'm moving forward, if slowly.

Its not the nicest of jobs at the best of times, let alone in this cold miserable weather. The good news is once the cylinder is out, getting a new one on is straightforward. If you order a new cylinder online, check it comes with the replacement bolts. The code for the bolts for mine, (2003 TD4), was SMV000010.

Jim

just waiting for the brake cylinder to arrive from ECP. Just in case it doesn't come with new bolts, what size are they?