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cruzahome
Samba Member
Joined: May 31, 2018
Posts: 28
Location: Washington
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 Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2026 3:04 pm Post subject: '64 Bug rear wheel brake cylinder leak |
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It's been 50 years since my Beetle days so my knowledge of working on them has disappeared into the mists of time. I recently embarked on the nostalgia stage of life and bought this beautiful all original Sea Blue '64.
I just discovered that I have a leaking rear wheel brake cylinder. Can I replace just that one cylinder? This is a car that only gets driven on ceremonial occasions.
Another question I have is about where to place the floor jack when jacking it up. I've watched multiple videos and of course everyone has different "this is the ONLY way to do it" advice. There must be one correct way of doing it. It's pretty clear where to place things on the front but I'm still not clear on doing the back. Thanks for any advice on the REAL correct way to do the rear. |
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67rustavenger
Samba Member
Joined: February 24, 2015
Posts: 11666
Location: Oregon
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| Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2026 3:15 pm Post subject: Re: '64 Bug rear wheel brake cylinder leak |
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Yes, you can replace a single wheel cylinder.
Place a piece of wood on top of your trolley jack and place it under the rear of the car forward of the transmission forks. Jack up the rea of the car and place jack stands under the rear torsion bar housing. Give the car a little shake to make sure that it's not gonna fall on ya. Then got to work!
Make sure to break loose the rear axle castle nuts before lifting the car onto the stands.
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Bobs67vwagen
Samba Member
Joined: March 27, 2005
Posts: 1034
Location: Eastern north carolina
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| Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2026 3:20 pm Post subject: Re: '64 Bug rear wheel brake cylinder leak |
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There is no reason why you could not replace just the leaking cylinder. If your flex rubber hoses at each wheel are more than 8 years old I would replace them one at a time and bleed each wheel when replacing. These tend to close up internally over time.
For jacking the rear I usually go under the shock towers or I place a block of wood spanning the frame horns on each side of the transmission and jack it that way. |
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cruzahome
Samba Member
Joined: May 31, 2018
Posts: 28
Location: Washington
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| Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2026 5:10 pm Post subject: Re: '64 Bug rear wheel brake cylinder leak |
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| Can I safely put the jack stands on the rear wheel receiver tubes? |
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AirHead1966
Samba Member
Joined: October 17, 2019
Posts: 629
Location: Triad Area NC
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Eric&Barb
Samba Member
Joined: September 19, 2004
Posts: 26405
Location: Olympia Wash Rinse & Repeat
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| Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2026 6:10 pm Post subject: Re: '64 Bug rear wheel brake cylinder leak |
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| cruzahome wrote: |
| Can I safely put the jack stands on the rear wheel receiver tubes? |
You can put them under the torsion bar tubes.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/305076.jpg
While one can just replace a single wheel cylinder, most likely the others are not far behind that one in rust. Problem is the standard brake fluids like DOT3 will suck moisture right out of the air, and that will settle down in the lowest parts of the brake system causing the wheel cylinders to rust up internally. Rust is a wonderful abrasive, so it will easily chew up rubber piston seals of each brake cylinder and leaks will be all around.
Hopefully you have the later dual circuit MC installed. So when one wheel cylinder blows out, you do not end up suddenly with no brakes thru the brake pedal!!
If dual circuit, you might get away with replacing the one wheel cylinder and either replace the one on the other side or take it apart for inspection and cleaning out of any rust in it. That way when the brake cylinders blow out on the front you will still have about 40% of your brake power thru the pedal.
If single circuit, best to go thru all the wheel cylinders now.
Used to have to take the brake system apart every 18 to 24 months to get out the cylinder rust that built up in our rainy PNW weather with DOT3 brake fluid. Finally changed to DOT5 and now get about 8 years between pulling the brake system apart due to a wheel cylinder leak.
Have switched to DOT5 by taking the brake system apart to blow out the DOT3 with pressurized air and take each brake cylinder apart to let them air out for three weeks. Good time to replace the rubber flex lines if you do not know how old they are.
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Cusser
Samba Member
Joined: October 02, 2006
Posts: 33568
Location: Hot Arizona
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| Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2026 6:32 pm Post subject: Re: '64 Bug rear wheel brake cylinder leak |
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You CAN replace just the leaky wheel cylinder. Most folks "like" to replace both at once, but I cannot say that I have adhered to that practice personally....
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