I've been spannering pro and semi pro for 44 years and have always referred to the "brake cylinder" (using the neutral term) as the wheel cylinder and not heard another mechanic or parts person call it a slave cylinder. Maybe its a regional thing.

 

I/we always use slave cylinder to refer to the clutch slave cylinder, master cylinder for both brake and clutch.

 

As an example at the parts counter.

 

"Wheel cylinder for 72 Mini 1000 please!" response - "front or rear and what side?"

 

"Slave cylinder for 72 Mini 1000 please!" response - "here you go mate!"

 

"Master cylinder for 72 Mini 1000 please!" response - "brake or clutch?"

 

In the French language a master cylinder has the same name "cylindre maitre" and a slave cylinder is un récepteur, literally the recieving cylinder.

1 hour ago, xman said:

No evidence Wench is a woman

You mean apart from her having said so in another thread in this sub-forum?

...Might be worth keeping to the OP's original question here as bickering among yourselves just confuses and detracts from what could possibly be a dangerous scenario...

Wench, if you can examine and adjust the rear brakes yourself, great but otherwise, get a dealer to sort them for you as playing around can be a bit iffy. 

I can and have replaced front brake discs and pads on most of the vehicles I have owned and sometimes replaced rears but find they sometimes seem fiddlier, despite having less work to do then the fronts! The last time I had rear pads replaced, I purchased the parts and had my local MOT guy fit them. Saved a modest amount but saved me from worry and doing a half finished job. 

 

If you are opening up the rear drums, (Mine are discs) , you may well think of new pads/shoes,  just as you have the job started and they are quite inexpensive anyway. 

After this and the mechanism being reset, then you can concern yourself about the handbrake adjustment but again, a mechanic will do this as part of the job. Be aware, if you do the job, there are no come-backs, where if you pay a qualified person and they do it incorrectly or the fail without warning, they will be liable, at least to some degree. 

Takes a little of the worry out of it.

Only comment that I would make about a novice/beginner working on rear drum brakes is, there are a few nasty strong springs in there, and some brake parts suppliers offer just a set of 4 shoes, while also offering a built up kit of shoes assembled with their springs and possible the link bar.

Being someone who has sorted out cars with front drums and rear drums, in my older years, I stick with only buying cars with discs at both ends, so I keep any reworking of rear drum brakes down to a minimum, I prefer it that way!

With respect to all those who've worked on drum brakes, I'd add that I've found the rear drums on mine easier than a lot of other types. The only problem I've found on Fabia rear drums is that unless the pistons are clamped, they will try to expand. In reflection, I wonder if dumping all the vacuum in the servo might cure this problem.

As for strong springs in the rear drum. Biggest problem( apart from piston expansion) was that the adjustment system needs to be held together. I found that a temporary tie on the spring for the adjustment lever made matters simpler.

Brakes are not something to be played with without some knowledge, and better still some basic engineering knowledge.

For "no handbrake travel", I'd be looking at rear shoes with little friction material. i.e. replace shoes.

Edited 13 March, 20197 yr by VWD

20 minutes ago, VWD said:

 The only problem I've found on Fabia rear drums is that unless the pistons are clamped, they will try to expand. In reflection, I wonder if dumping all the vacuum in the servo might cure this problem.

 

 

Don't think that would make any difference. There is a spring inside the wheel cylinder between the two pistons and it forces them outwards. If the cylinder parts are worn it makes it worse.

If you need to fit a handbrake cable don't buy a pattern part.They have a thinner inner cable which tends to stretch earlier than an original skoda part.This means you will need to adjust for the stretch more often,and also the handbrake has an unnatural  springy feel  when applying.