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I've seen a few questions posted about replacement canisters - which are a bit difficult to find and expensive on the surplus side. I recently replaced the diaphragm's in all of mine and other than dealing with the paint on the clamp bolt threads it's an extremely easy process. On my 2008 A1R the front brake cans use a "Type 16" diaphragm, and the four rear cans all use a "Type 12" diaphragm. The diaphragms were about $6 each for the rear, and about $8 each for the front. The whole job took about an hour.
The process is very easy - DON'T TOUCH THE OUTER CLAMPS on the rear cans. That's the parking brake spring and IT CAN KILL YOU.
The front is easy - take the clamp off, remove the diaphragm, replace with a new one, and reinstall the cap and the clamp.
On the rear - you have a choice to make. On a flat level surface you can chock the wheels and release the parking brake with air, then take the INNER (CLOSEST TO THE WHEEL) clamp off, replace the diaphragm, and reinstall. Or if you aren't on a real level surface or want to be extra safe you can cage both of the canisters on one side while the other side parking brake remains engaged.
5 of mine (LMTV) were not that bad, but one of my rear diaphragm's was not looking excellent:
The process is very easy - DON'T TOUCH THE OUTER CLAMPS on the rear cans. That's the parking brake spring and IT CAN KILL YOU.
The front is easy - take the clamp off, remove the diaphragm, replace with a new one, and reinstall the cap and the clamp.
On the rear - you have a choice to make. On a flat level surface you can chock the wheels and release the parking brake with air, then take the INNER (CLOSEST TO THE WHEEL) clamp off, replace the diaphragm, and reinstall. Or if you aren't on a real level surface or want to be extra safe you can cage both of the canisters on one side while the other side parking brake remains engaged.
5 of mine (LMTV) were not that bad, but one of my rear diaphragm's was not looking excellent:
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