Here are a few answers to questions you have about wheel cylinders.
1. How Many Wheel Cylinders Does A Car Have?
That depends on how many drum brakes your vehicle has and the brake cylinder configuration used.
In general, a vehicle with drum brakes will have 2 dual piston wheel cylinders.
That’s because cars with drum brakes typically only use them as rear brakes.
2. How Long Does A Wheel Cylinder Last?
You can expect your wheel cylinders to last around 3-5 years, or up to approximately 100,000km. This will depend on the make and model of your vehicle and the type of driving done.
Heavy-duty driving (like towing or driving in mountainous terrain) will definitely wear down your wheel cylinder faster.
3. Will My Brakes Still Work If The Wheel Cylinder Fails?
Yes, your brakes will still work, but you’ll experience poor brake response.
Most cars have a dual circuit braking system — meaning if one circuit fails (as in a rear wheel cylinder goes bust in a wheel), there’s still braking capability in the other circuit.
However, keep in mind that your brakes won’t be as powerful, the braking distance will be longer, and if you have disc brakes on the front, the rear of your car might jump if you brake hard.
4. If My Wheel Cylinder Leaks, Do I Need To Replace The Brake Shoes Too?
A brake shoe replacement is only necessary if they are too thin or saturated with brake fluid from a leak.
If there’s not too much fluid on the brake shoe, it can still be cleaned up quickly and reliably.
5. Is It More Cost Effective To Replace The Wheel Cylinder With The Brake Shoes?
For the most part, yes.
If you replace the wheel cylinder during a brake shoe job, the new wheel cylinder and labor cost will typically be included in a package price.
The labor time spent replacing the brake shoes and wheel cylinder overlap, so a wheel cylinder replacement is a relatively small additional labor charge.
6. How Much Does A Wheel Cylinder Repair Cost?
The cost of replacing a pair of wheel cylinders on most vehicles is around $200.
Here are some specific examples of average dealer prices:
| Vehicle Model | Average Dealer Cost |
| 2015 Ford Focus | $204 |
| 2008 Dodge Charger | $192 |
| 2010 Lexus GS450h | $211 |
7. What Is A Wheel Cylinder Rebuild Kit?
The wheel cylinder can also be rebuilt instead of replaced.
It can cost a little less than a replacement and is sometimes needed for custom or classic cars.
A “wheel cylinder rebuild kit” is simply a rebuild kit that has all the parts (pistons, seals, etc.) needed to rebuild the wheel cylinder of your specific vehicle year, make and model.
However, most professional technicians would recommend a replacement as many aftermarket wheel cylinders match OEM specifications these days, so a rebuild is not needed.
Additionally, note that rebuilding requires tons of care and time, specialized mechanical knowledge and is not always doable if your wheel cylinder is too damaged
About Wheel Cylinder
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