How to Change Drum Shoes on a Honda Civic

The Honda Civic was produced with rear drum brakes for much of the model run, and replacing the shoes in the Civic's rear brake assembly is considered routine maintenance. The shoes and drum surface use friction to stop the wheel, and these friction surfaces wear out over time. The average backyard mechanic can replace the shoes in a Civic in about 30 minutes per brake.

Instructions

1

Raise the rear of the Civic by placing the jack head in front of the rear wheel on the frame rail. Pump the lever until the wheel is in the air. Do not place the jack onto the body or suspension, as this could cause damage from the focused weight. Place a jack stand close to the jack head on the same rail for support.

2

Remove the rear wheel by turning the lug nuts counterclockwise and pulling the wheel from the hub. Set the wheel away from the work area.

3

Pull the drum from the brake assembly by sliding it directly away from the backing plate. Later models have keeper screws that hold the drum in place; remove the keeper screw (on the front face of the drum) by turning it counterclockwise. With the drum removed, inspect the interior surface of the drum and check the brake assembly for debris or leaks.

4

Remove the shoes by levering off the long retainer springs with a brake tool (basically a bent screwdriver with a notched tip), then turning the primary spring bolt counterclockwise. Some spring bolts are held in with tension caps, which can be turned either direction to remove them. Slide the shoes directly away from the backing plate, and out of the brake assembly.

5

Replace the shoes with new units by sliding them onto the brake assembly and securing the primary spring bolt on each shoe. Replace the long retainer springs, if necessary, and lever them back onto the shoe hooks. Set the adjustment bolt (between the shoes at the bottom) on some models by turning it clockwise until there is just a little slack.

6

Replace the drum by sliding it over the shoes to the backing plate, and securing it's keeper screw, if applicable. Replace the wheel and turn the lug nuts clockwise, in an alternating pattern. Remove the jack stand and lower the Civic from the jack. Repeat the entire procedure on the opposite brake. The Civic had drums brakes in the rear, and disk brakes in the front.