Rear brakes question on a 2003 Mercury Sable?

(2010-05-30 13:11:19)

1. twocosmicfish Says: A mechanic just looked at my wife's car and announced that the rear brakes were shot, fluid was leaking into the brakes, and that the following would need to be replaced (exactly as he noted them):

Wheel Cylinders
Brake Drums
Rear Shoes
Brake Hardware

Drums and shoes I understand, but what precisely are the cylinders and the "hardware"? Are these components I can replace myself? I am an engineer and have done some small amount of work on cars in the past... just never on brakes. Will the computer need to be reprogrammed for any reason after the repair?

If I do not do it myself, is the quoted price of ~$430 + tax (southern IL) appropriate?

2. The-Razors-Edge Says: Wheel cylinders are what the brake fluid flows into to apply the shoes to the drum. The leaking is from bad seals in the cylinders themselves, and has most likely contaminated the brake shoes and hardware which is why the mechanic told you all that needed to be replaced. And, yes these are all components you can replace yourself, although you will need a couple of special tools for the hardware. These parts are usually inexpensive. The wheel cylinder is usually around 20-30 bucks and the hardware is around 10-20 bucks...more or less. And no, you do not have to mess with the computer, unless your ABS light is on.

3. beep beep Says: you can do it yourself, it's not that hard...just take both tires off and repair one and use the other one as a guide to what goes where....cylinders are little little pistons that when you push on the brakes puts pressure on the brake pads to the drums...as far as the hardware, i have no idea..probably something you don't need. buy the cylinders and the shoes that you need. worse comes to worse, you can have him put it together if you think it is too hard...but I am sure you can do it.

4. Kevin Says: wheel cylinders are what push your pads out for rub on the drums to slow it down and as your brakes wear they hold it out farther and farther so they don't have to travel a large distance they are wear products like every thing else and do need to be replaced once in a while plus road salt never helps them, and brake hardware is adjusters ETC. they get rusty and lock up and have issues, it is all reasonable, and the price seems a little high but depends if its a dealer or personal shop dealers charge more, they go by a book time which is how long it normally takes to fix it, if book time is two hours and they get it done in one hour you still get charged for two but if book time is two hours and it takes them five you still get charged for two so it evens out, take it to another shop and get it priced there and compair the two