[littlered]

So i have been leaking brake fluid for a few days and today the fluid got to low before i added more to it and now the pedel is really soft. I climbed under the truck and noticed brake fluid coming out of the drivers side rear brake. What could be leaking in it and how hard would it be to fix it? thanks!

[01_ranger_4x4]

if its coming from inside the drum it would be your wheel cylinder. its what pushes out on the brake shoes when you hit the brakes. its not difficult to change but it does require knowing how to disassemble/ assemble drum brakes and also bleeding your brake system

[RangOH]

if it helps, i just did my first drum brake job a few weeks ago and it wasn't as bad as i thought it would be..

[Fenech627]

x2 on probably being your wheel cylinder. Ever have your BRAKE light or ABS light go on in the cab possibly after a hard stop? Or your BRAKE light mainly staying on (Low fluid). That a long with dropping fluid levels and difficulty stopping quick was what I noticed when my drivers side and passenger side wheel cylinder went out.

When you replace the wheel cylinder on one side I would highly suggest doing the other. When one goes its only a matter of time before the other does as well. Additionally you may want to replace all the little springs on your drums because I would bet that the side that is leaking is caked in fluid.

[littlered]

yep the lights are on in the cab because of the brake fluid. it had been stopping fine until today when i started it up and pulled out my dads 250 that was stuck in the mud. i think that the fluid got to low last night and it finally got air in the system.

[littlered]

the wheel cylinder ended up being bad, the emergency brake was rusted so it was partially ingaged the whole time, my shoes were worn all the way down to the rivits, and my adjuster screw was stuck. stops woderfuly now!