In process of rebuilding my Loyale, and doing the rear (drum) brakes, and yes I know disks are the best option, but not here, because there isn't any to be had.

I'm looking at aluminum wheel cylinders, that appear to be original, what were they thinking?

lets see if i'm getting this right, you have no rear brakes?

lets see if i'm getting this right, you have no rear brakes?

 

No, I now have LOTS of rear brakes, I am questioning the *thinking* behind aluminum wheel cylinders, and their use in northern climates, in "daily driver" type cars.

I'm not quite following you on the "aluminum wheel cylinders" part. Can you describe to me what these are? The brake piston? The hub?

The drums? Datsun did that since the 60s.

Huh? You talking about the drum brake cylinder? Or the actual drum itself?

 

"wheel cylinder" really doesn't mean much - as far as I know there's no such thing.

 

GD

Here's a visual aid for those of you who don't know what a wheel cylinder is:

 

From http://autorepair.about.com/library/images/bl237lib.htm

 

Yes, I personally think aluminum wheel cylinders are not the best choice for some climates, but they seem to work OK here in Western Canada

I figured - I call that a drum brake cylinder.

 

GD

Actually heard of a few people cracking them in really cold weather when I lived in Alaska. Around -20*f to -40*f is when I have seen them fail. Rear disks would be a good idea especially braking hard in cold weather.

I figured - I call that a drum brake cylinder.

 

GD

 

Yah, I know you knew what they are, but you didn't understand what he said

 

I've always been told they were wheel cylinders, ever since I was a wee boy. makes sense: you've got your master cylinder, and your wheel cylinders.

Yah, I know you knew what they are, but you didn't understand what he said

 

I've always been told they were wheel cylinders, ever since I was a wee boy. makes sense: you've got your master cylinder, and your wheel cylinders.

 

Yeah I see your point - probably a throwback from the days when hydraulic brakes first came out - drums all around so master and wheel cylinders makes sense. Now we have cylinders for all kinds of hydraulic stuff, and drums are getting rare so it's now more important to specify I suppose.

 

Tecnically I suppose you could call the "pots" in a caliper cylinders - that's certainly what they are in hydraulic terms. Weird how the nomenclature stacks up around cars isn't it?

 

GD