Replacing drum brakes

Note: some brake drum s are held on with screws so you will need to remove those first. Once the drum is off take a look at it. Drum brakes have a bunch of springs and levers for the self-adjuster and parking brake.

I replace the drum , springs, and shoes in a For but the process applies to most other cars with drum brakes. No special tools required and it will save you a lot of $$$$. Part of 4: Install the brake drum s and replace the wheel.

Step 8: Replace the brake shoe and drum s of the other rear wheel. A brake drum looks like this with the wheel off. Matt Wright Before you can consider replacing your rear brakes , you need to figure out what type of rear brakes your car or truck is equipped with.

It should fit easily onto the front of the backing plate. Then, take your brake spoon and turn the star wheel in the back until you can turn the wheel and feel light contact from the brake shoes. Take a turkey baster and remove the old brake fluid from the master cylinder under the hood of the car. Dealership technicians probably work on drum brakes at least once a week, and brake specialists probably more than once a day.

After years in the business, these professionals can offer tips to make DIYers’ foray into replacing drum brakes a little bit less complicated. This system is composed of a small primary shoe, a larger secondary shoe, self-adjuster mechanism and attaching hardware. Replacing the shoes when worn is a common do-it-yourself project. Take care to install the different-sized shoes in the correct location. Even though most modern cars are equipped with anti-lock disc brakes in the front, where the majority of braking power is generate drum brakes are still a popular choice for rear axles and parking brakes.

Drum brakes are highly reliable, and typically much more durable than discs, which makes them perfect for balancing brake power between the front and rear. With disc brakes , it has been common practice to replace just the brake pads and resurface the rotors on a lathe if needed so the surface is even and smooth. In recent years, however, more automakers have switched to rotors that are lighter and thinner to reduce weight and save money.

Keep in mind: Your brake drum s will become smaller as they wear out, and their size will determine if they need replacing. Defective brake drum s sometimes cause damage to brake shoes. Brake drum s cannot be repaire only replaced.

Both brake drums should be replaced at the same time, even if only one is damaged. Remove the the brake drum from the vehicle. Once you have the drum remove it is a good idea to clean the area of dust with compressed air or brake wash spray. Block the front wheels with wheel blocks.

Loosen the lug nuts with a lug wrench. Raise the rear end of the vehicle with a jack and secure it with jack stands.

Backplate Wheel cylinder Wheel stud Hub nut underdust cover. This is a leading-and-trailing-shoe brake: a two-leading-shoe brake has two cylinders. Brake fluid is generally renewed when a leaking or sticking wheel cylinder on a drum brake is replaced with a new one. Let’s get started on the rear drum brakes. Sometimes rear drums can rust onto the hub and extra force may be needed to remove them.

Here is the rear drum assembly with the drum removed. In this case the customer concern is, the brakes pulse when applied at highway speeds and a vibration is coming from the rear of the vehicle. The shoes are secured to a backing plate by hold-down springs, and actuated by the pistons in a hydraulic wheel cylinder. When the brakes are applie the linings press against the friction surface of the brake drum , which encloses the assembly and attaches to the axle or hub, turning with the wheels. If they are not replaced it can be very dangerous to drive.

Many vehicles today have disc brakes on their front wheels, but owners may still opt for the conventional drum brakes for the rear wheels. Jack up your vehicle and remove a wheel. The outer workings of a drum brake. It requires a solid understanding of automotive maintenance and repair, as well as a wide array of tools. Begin by locating the master cylinder of your car.

Follow the simple steps below. Place the new drum over the brake shoe set and screw the axle nut on to hold it in place. A new drum is required to allow the brakes to seat properly onto the new braking surface. Replace the dust cover, then mount the wheel back on the vehicle and repeat the process on the other wheel. They work in a similar fashion by creating friction between the pads and the drums to slow the rotation of the wheel which will stop the vehicle.

Drum Brake Replacement Cost and Information Guide. Try removing the bolts from the wheel cylinder and pushing the cylinder (still attached to the brake line) off the backing plate. Then just turn the brake cylinder while holding the brake line nut still.

This way the brake line is not twisted. When the brake shoes become overheated it can crack the brake lining of the shoe which indicates a failure that requires replacement. When a brake shoe is in this condition large piece of the lining can come loose and lodge between the shoe and drum causing the wheel to lock up. Drum brakes are more susceptible to brake fade because most of the heat that builds up within the system is retained longer than with disc brakes. To replace a brake drum , the brake shoes must be released from the drum , the wheel must be remove and then the drum can slide off the wheel lug studs and brake shoes.

The replacement drum is installed by sliding on, and the brake shoes can be readjusted before the vehicle is placed on the ground. The drums only need replacing if they are deeply cracked or oversize. Properly adjusted drums last for several sets of shoes.

The inner edge will need to be cleaned and gently chamfered off to allow the drum to slide back on easily when refitting.

They are constantly clearing the rotors of the water, whereas drum brakes retract the shoes more (allowing far more clearance), and the water can, in extreme cases, even pool in the bottom of the drums. Brake systems - more than you wanted to know. Drum brakes , on the other han have a hydraulic wheel cylinder that pushes a brake shoe against the inside of a spinning drum. Either design involves highly engineered parts and precise movement.

The more force a driver applies to the brake pedal, the greater the stopping force that is applied at the wheels.