Dear All

 

Had a shock today after taking our 63,000 mile, 2006, 1.2 HTP MK1 to the local Skoda garage for a service. I have felt that the brakes weren't working as they should for a while now and have got a call from the garage telling me the rear wheel brake cylinder was leaking and both sides need replacing, as do the shoes.

 

My concern is that someone may a tampered with it. We have been having trouble with a neighbour who is harassing us and the guy is a mechanic. I may well be wrong, but is it possible to 'damage' a rear wheel brake cylinder by getting under the car and using something sharp etc, or loosening something?

 

Would really appreciate any opinions on this, because we've been driving around for a short while, with only the front brakes, with my child in the back seat!

No.  The wheel cylinder is inside the drum brake and fairly hard to access

 

If they wanted to interfere with your brakes then it would be easier to access the flexible hoses.  On telly they usually cut them but that's a bit obvious as soon as you start the car - the best way is to make multiple small holes with a sharp scriber.

The rear brakes are relatively unimportant in terms of the proportion of the stopping power that is done by them. Wheel cylinders leaking is a very common failure, no need for outside 'help'.

Check your service records to see when/if the brake fluid has been changed. Old fluid is a much more likely cause of the poor braking.

Holy **** how paranoid are you!!!!

As said, it's impossible to just get under a car and use something sharp to damage the wheel cylinder seals, the wheels need to be off and then the drums removed to get good access to them.

If you really want to tamper with someone's brakes, Jack the car up on the pipe! Seen it happen (was on test car at college) 

Leaking rear wheel cylinders is a fairly common thing. Lost count of the number of them I have replaced on cars over the years. Did a Ford Focus one a couple of weeks ago.

Holy **** how paranoid are you!!!!

You've obviously never had issues with a neighbour.

You've obviously never had issues with a neighbour.

 

You obviously watch too many films and have a wild imagination!

You obviously watch too many films and have a wild imagination!

No, just some people don't know how to get along :-)

 

If you've never had a major issue with a neighbour then you are very lucky.  Don't move house as you are blessed.

Thanks guys, much reassured!

 

Thanks Brad1.8T for the support re the neighbours.

 

PEOPLE CAN BE EVIL and not just in the made up world of the movies....do you doubters ever watch the news!? It's not made up, its REAL. Watch nightmare neighbours here in UK, again all very real...If you have good neighbours listen to Brad and don't move!

PEOPLE CAN BE EVIL and not just in the made up world of the movies....do you doubters ever watch the news!? It's not made up, its REAL. Watch nightmare neighbours here in UK, again all very real...If you have good neighbours listen to Brad and don't move!

 

I've had it myself. Had a psycho neighbour who used to let all four of my tyres down and tamper with my car. Had to get a solicitor and Police involved. I've moved now and my neighbours are mostly elderly and lovely people.

Let's see:

The family of 12 indigenous folk that rented next door were nice enough except when 12 people get into a blazing row it's somewhat frightening.

Two of the lads were engaged in some form of criminal activity.  I suppose I can thank them for that because it meant that the police spent a lot of time keeping the house under surveillance.

 

The guy 5 doors up and across the road is a mayor in the adjacent local government area.  He built a McMansion using some quite odd labour.  His day job is Building Contract Manager for a major utility.  He built the house a lot closer to the roadway than the rules allow but he's mates with various folk in the local council so they voted it through as OK.

 

When his next door neighbour protested the neighbours house was paint bombed and had bricks thrown through the window.  I'm sure it was a coincidence as the "Mayor" was away interstate at the time.

 

This is his latest effort (he does a lot of property development within his local council area)

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/hurstville-mayor-con-hindi-in-strife-over-asbestos-20150515-gh2tgv.html

 

But he isn't greedy - the whole family shares in the wealth

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/hurstville-mayor-con-hindis-daughter-makes-330000-profit-in-12-days-20150602-ghf6ur.html

 

 

And then I have this charmer across the road from me.  He attempted to sue another neighbour for $20k using his dodgy lawyer mate. I've had quite a few run-ins with him including an incident with my (then) 14yo daughter where he advised her "Don't tell your parents about this".

 

http://aca.ninemsn.com.au/article/9020223/home-and-away-hoax

 

http://aca.ninemsn.com.au/article/9021156/celebrity-con

 

On the flipside, the other 50 households in the street are really nice