My 2013 Skoda Fabia has just failed its MOT for multiple reasons - tire cuts, anti-roll ball linkage ball joint dust cover wear, and a leaking brake pipe on the rear offside wheel. Having done some research, I'm fairly confident I can fit two new anti-roll bar linkages. If possible I'd also like to deal with the brake issue myself. Looking at the attached pic, can anyone suggest sensible steps. The circled nut seems tight (but I've not tried tightening it yet) and the pipe leading to it seems undamaged.

Thanks,

Tim

Probably/almost certainly the wheel cylinder has developed a leak at one of its piston seals, and the leaked fluid has come through to there as well as leaking inside drum.

Drum removal needed for inspection and rectification.

Near zero chance that the brake pipe has mysteriously loosened itself.

Edited 28 April28 Apr by Breezy_Pete

Thanks for the advice. I'll look inside the drum. If it is a piston seal I'll be disappointed as I had work done on the rear brakes a couple of months ago (hand brake was sticking, and there was a squeal during braking).

agree with @Breezy_Pete most likely the wheel cylinder is the issue

I've taken a look (see photo) and the (fairly newly fitted) cylinder is leaking fluid from the left side when brake is pressed. It is secure but the alignment feels slightly wrong to my inexpert eye. Left-hand side of piston doesn't seem to get pushed back in like the right-hand side. I'm now concerned I won't be able to reassemble drum due to left shoe position and get to a garage. Any advice greatly appreciated!

This is the opposite side to your picture, it looks like the piston on one side of your cylinder has popped out, perhaps when you pressed the brake pedal? Never press the brake pedal with the drum removed. You will need to lift up the wedge in picture to allow the shoes to return and also reinsert the piston to the cylinder. Probably need to bleed the brake on that drum too.

Edited 29 April29 Apr by Wonky

Thanks. Lifting the wedge didn't seem to have any effect. I'm wary of trying to bleed the brakes as it's not something I've done before and I'm worried I'll make a bad situation worse.

Seap/leak now fixed (I hope). After calling out an RAC mobile mechanic who, after some tussling, managed to get the drum back on, (he also bled the brakes), I went back to the garage that replaced the rear brake shoes and cylinders a month or so ago. They took a look and identified the fluid pipe connection at the rear of the wheel as the problem. This was tightened. I did point out that I'd found fluid under the rubber cylinder seals, but this didn't seem to concern them enough to delve deeper. I guess I should monitor the situation in the drum for the next few months just to ensure the cylinder is okay.

Could be failing seals in the wheel cylinder. My sons was leaking slightly and when took old ones off they were badly coroded inside that had damaged seals. I fitted two new ones and back to normal. There not that expensive from memory £12-00 per side. I fitted new adjuster at same time as they can get worn over time. keep and eye on base of drum for moisture especially when weather is dry.

Alasdair.

Meant to add keep a very close eye on fluid reservoir to see if its dropping.

Alasdair

@hymek said in his last post that the shoes and cylinders were only replaced a month ago.

Perhaps something that would have been sensible to mention in the opening post?

Thanks for the additional suggestions, and sorry, I should have mentioned that I had the rear brakes (shoes and cylinders) replaced recently.

My brake woes didn't end on Thursday. On Friday I noticed brake fluid dripping out of the drum on the supposedly fixed wheel and went back to the garage. To their credit, they immediately took the car in and replaced the cylinder. Hopefully that's the end of that.

I naively assumed replacing the anti-roll bar links would be easy but judging from the knocking sounds I heard on my drive home last night, I've somehow managed to balls that up. I thought I'd got the new ones nice and tight but apparently not! I intend to take another look today. Hopefully a second visit from the RAC mechanic won't be necessary.

If the drop links are tight have a look at ARB bushes etc. It could be them that have failed or other suspension bush. On the rear of my mk2 octavia there are different diameters of ARB so check size. Have also heard that there is a plastic liner in ARB bush bracket that can disintegrate so new bushes are too slack.

Alasdair