2003 Saturn L200 BREAKS!
 

I have an 03 Saturn L200 that I change the rear brake pads on and the wheel cylinder. Every time I pump the brakes to bleed them the wheel cylinder pops and brake fluid pours out. I have no clue what's causing the problem. Not sure if I have something wrong or if the wheel cylinders are bad from the parts store. Can someone please help me?
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.sat...53cd4219ad.jpg

Astute observation, Dr.

yes sir I do bleed them with the drum on. Still bust every time.

They're NOT assembled correctly. Look at the notch in the wheel cylinder, The brake shoe is NOT seated in the groove. You have nothing to block the pressure of the fluid from popping the cylinder out. Put those shoes in the slots, NOT outside them. Drum brakes are not that difficult if you just pay attention to how they come apart. My Dad taught me to do one side at a time, so you can always use the other side as a reference.

You are correct! I took them apart and reassembled them and there perfect! Thanks a lot!

Happy to help. That's what we're here for.

I haven't worked on drum brakes since my buddy taught me how to in high school. I thought it was nasty then and I have succeeded in avoiding them for 30 years running.

Power to ya for fixing em and power to Rube for detecting an issue from a single pic. See Rube .parts of your memories can't be lost no matter how many times they slice your brain 😄

That's true, derf. And I've done a LOT of drum brakes in my life. I don't mind them so much. I was really happy when brake cleaner hit the market, though. Lots easier and safer to use than compressed air. Just put some newspaper under the wheel and spray them clean! My biggest issue was usually getting the damned keeper back on the pins that hold the shoe in place!

brakes
 

I did this same job and had exactly the same problem. I would put it all together with the drum on and a pistonwould pop out. Like you I questioned the wheel cylinders (and in fact replaced them) but this is not the problem. I know that I got it right in the end (after proving that it would do likewise with the new cylinder). But I am not sure what the problem was, except I had my attention called to the bottom "anchor". This is probably where the problem was.
First off, the little edge that keeps the shoe is place is only about 1/4", easy to get it dislocated.
Second, if you look at the shoe it is rounded at the bottom--unlike the secure notch on most shoes. It is also a fact that the "notches" in the cylinder pistons do not exist. Obviously the Saturn engineers were aiming at something that does a ninja twist, facilitated by the curved bottom. It is ballet, not Hank Ford.
What it boils down to is the Saturn rear brakes are a pain to put together. Some guy on youtube uses special jigs to line everything up, which chiefly impressed me with the difficulty of the chore. I did get it together.