How to Remove the Rear Brake Drum on a Hyundai Elantra

The Hyundai Elantra rear brakes are a drum and shoe type system. The shoes are forced out against the drums by an hydraulic wheel cylinder when the brake pedal is depressed. The shoes typically wear slower than the front disc brake pads, but removing the rear drums regularly to inspect the condition of the drum and shoes is good preventative maintenance. Clean the drums, shoes and hardware every time you remove the drums to extend the life of your rear brakes.

Instructions

1

Loosen the lug nuts on the rear wheels of your Hyundai Elantra with a lug wrench. Do not take them off the wheel studs yet; just break them loose.

2

Position a jack under the rear suspension of the car and raise it until the tires are off the ground. Place a set of jack stands under the rear suspension to support the car, while you work, then remove the jack.

3

Remove the lug nuts from the wheel studs and set them in a safe place. Slide the wheel and tire off the wheel studs, revealing the brake drum underneath, then set the wheel and tire aside for now.

4

Check the area of the brake drum where the wheel studs come through it. On some cars, there is a metal retaining clip around the wheel stud that holds the drum in place during the manufacturing process. If there is still one on your car, pry it off the wheel stud with a flat head screwdriver. Don't worry if it breaks; you can discard it as it is no longer needed.

5

Grasp the brake drum on the side with your hands and pull it straight back towards you. It should slide off, but you may have to work it back and forth a little. Sometimes the drums stick if they have been on the car for a long time.