This morning shortly after i got on the interstate, my ABS and BRAKE lights came on. the brakes seemed to work ok while i was on the highway (i was able to slow from 70-45 rather quickly) I went the 10 miles that I had to go, got off the highway and parked in the lot at school.

By the time I got to a parking spot, the brakes were very weak and fading. I sat and pumped the brakes for a minute and got out to find a puddle of hydraulic oil under the left rear tire. Upon closer inspection, there is hydraulic oil leaking out from the brake drum.

What would normally let go inside the drum? Anything that can easily be fixed (or rigged up) on site or do I need to thumb a ride back home?

 

most likely brake cylinder or caliper. you need to remove the drum to replace, then bleed brake system. gonna take awhile would suggest to tow it home with tow bar or trailer as you mhave no brakes
Clark

 

oh, also change brake linnings or pads as these are toast, I would do both rear brakes at this time including both wheel cylinders and linnings
Clark

 

Good time to upgrade to Napa p/n 4637337 cylinders ($12 ea).
As for shoes, the cheapest you can find will work just dandy.

 

Well, the upgrade sounds like a good idea. Got a pair for $12. and some shoes and some fluid (dumped a lot out on I675 today...) Thanks

 

got truck home (plugged lines on back brakes and bled, then drove) took back brakes apart.... the suspect cylinder was leaking badly. replaced with the upgraded cylinder and new shoes. did the same on other side. bled brakes. side with original leak is fine. side that wasnt leaking blew out (new cylinder) and made a huge mess...... go figure......

 

Way back in 1968 I had a 65 mustang, anyway I was quite away from home about 100 miles in Palm Springs and I saw a puddle by the back wheel. You guessed it the wheel cylinder let go. So now I have a long way to get home, it is getting late and there are no parts stores. Sooo... I opened my toolbox and thought for a bit and then I saw the fix. I got my pair of ViseGrips got under the car and crimped off the hydraulic line to the wheel. Now I still had brakes but only 3 wheels. Short story is I got home all I had to do is cut and reflare the line to install a coupling to repair the damage I had done. All I can say is it worked for me.
Good Luck Jim L.

 

I had to do something similar Jim... only worse. I was out offroading a million miles from nowhere and broke a line. I also used a pair of vice grips to pinch off the line. But I had no fluid with me... except for a bud light that I found in the ice chest. Not the best brake fluid but it makes a better brake fluid than a beer. haha I had to flush the system really well when I fixed it.

 

Hey you could have been desperate and have had to drink the beer first and then fill the master cylinder after it came out. That also would have worked..

A long time ago when I used to go offroad back in the 70's I had a small 4 wheel ATV back in the time of the 3 wheel ATC's that was powered by a 440cc. Rotac 2 stroke and would seat 1. Looked like a small sand rail and it had IRS with swing arms and 2 u-joints per side. I was about 45 minutes out of base when I made a jump and broke a rear arm. I got back by lashing tree branches to the control arm to to keep the wheel on the back side of the rail. Then I drove back real slow. The desert engineering looked like the back of Fred Flintstones car.

 

hahaha wheres the pictures??? That could have won the funniest videos.