Lost braking. Visible lines look ok. Fluid is leaking out of the wheel. I'm thinking the wheel cylinder needs a rebuild. But, won't know until I can see it.

The manual says, "Unscrew the nuts retaining the wheel and with a soft-faced hammer rap the wheel to loosen the tapered dowels. Fig. 4. Remove the dowels." Alright, up until, "...with a soft-faced hammer rap the wheel to loosen the tapered dowels. Fig. 4. Remove the dowels."

Two days later I've worked from a 2lb rubber mallet through my collection of lumps, and mallets, up to a 12lb sledge, to no avail. Not sure I understand what's supposed to happen. I'm visualizing these dowels as tapered sleeves of a springy steel that slide over the studs. That when the lugs are tightened they press the sleeves into the holes centering the hub and compressing the sleeve so it locks to the stud. No way to remove the wheel without releasing the dowels. The vibration from hammering should loosen the dowels and allow them to expand? Right? Not happening.

Aside from whaling away with the hammers, I've made a few attempts at applying force directly to the dowels. Used a 3/4" black pipe nipple that fit over the dowels focusing on the area immediately around the dowels. No luck! I'm stuck. Any ideas? Do I just have to hit it harder?