How to Do Rear Brakes on a Chevy Nova

The Chevrolet Nova was in production from 1962 to 1979, with models produced from 1962-1968 known as the Chevy II Nova. These vehicles were equipped from the factory with rear drum brakes. Drum brakes use curved brake shoes attached to a drum backing plate. The brake drum is mounted to the drive axle and rotates along with the wheel. When the brake pedal is pressed, a hydraulic cylinder applies an outward force against the brake shoes pushing them against the brake drum and slowing the vehicle.

Instructions

Removing the Rear Brake Drums

1

Raise the rear of the vehicle according to instructions listed in the owners manual and support with jack stands placed underneath the rear drive axle.

2

Remove the rear wheels and tires.

3

Remove the brake drum by pulling it off the lug studs. Do not use a hammer to strike the inboard lip of the brake drum to remove it.

Disassembling the Rear Brakes

4

Pull the bottom of the brake shoes away from each other and remove the adjusting screw.

5

Push the bottom of the brake shoes together and remove the adjusting screw spring.

6

Removing the spring that connects the leading brake shoe (the shoe on the front side of the drum) to the adjusting link at the top of the brake backing plate.

7

Remove the spring that connects the trailing brake shoe (the shoe on the back side of the drum) to the stud at the top of the brake backing plate.

8

Remove the adjusting link that connects the adjuster lever to the stud at the top of the brake backing plate.

9

Remove the hold-down spring and clip on the leading brake shoe. Place one finger over the retaining pin on the inboard side of the brake backing plate. Press down on the hold-down spring and turn the retaining clip 1/4 turn. Release the spring and remove the shoe along with the adjuster lever.

10

Remove the hold-down spring and clip on the trailing brake shoe, using the same technique listed in the step above. Remove the trailing shoe, by separating it from the parking brake lever.

11

Remove the parking brake strut and spring from above the axle.

12

Discard the brake shoes. Clean all the levers and springs, along with the brake backing plate, with an automotive solvent. Replace any parts that are broken or overly worn.

Reassembling the Rear Brakes

13

Place the parking brake strut between the top of the axle and the wheel cylinder, behind the axle flange. The spring on the parking brake strut should be pointed toward the front of the vehicle.

14

Place the leading brake shoe into position on the front half of the brake backing plate. Insert the retaining pin through the mounting hole on the inboard side of the backing plate and through the mounting hole in the leading shoe. Slide the hold-down spring and retaining clip over the retaining pin. Press down on the hold-down spring and rotate it 1/4 turn to secure the shoe.

15

Align the adjuster lever mounting hole with the mounting hole on the trailing brake shoe. Lift the trailing shoe into position on the rear half of the brake backing plate. The adjuster lever should be on the outboard side of the trailing shoe. Attach the parking brake lever to the trailing shoe by inserting the tab at the top of the parking brake lever into the slot in the top of the trailing shoe. Install the retaining pin, hold-down spring and retaining clip on the trailing shoe using the same technique you used for the leading shoe.

16

Install the brake shoe return spring on the leading shoe and connect it to the stud at the top of the brake backing plate.

17

Press down on the bottom of the adjuster lever and connect the actuating link to the adjuster lever and the stud at the top of the brake backing plate.

18

Install the brake shoe return spring on the trailing shoe and connect it to the stud at the top of the brake backing plate.

19

Pull the bottom of the brake shoes away from each other and insert the adjuster between the shoes. The star wheel on the adjuster screw should be closer to the trailing shoe.

20

Push the bottom the the brake shoes together and connect the adjusting screw spring to the holes on the bottom of each brake shoe just above the adjusting screw.

Reinstalling the Brake Shoes

21

Slide the brake drum over the lug studs.

22

Reinstall the rear wheels and tires.

23

Lower the vehicle.