How to Do Brake Shoes

On modern automobiles, drum brakes are located only on the rear wheels. Rear brakes wear much more slowly than front disc brakes, and therefore are changed less frequently. However, badly worn rear brakes can cause depressurization of the braking system and a loss of stopping power. Specific tools are needed for brake shoe replacement, and they can be found at any auto parts store.

Instructions

1

Place wheel blocks in front of and behind the front tires and kick them in tightly. This will prevent your car from moving while you are servicing the rear brakes.

2

Slightly loosen the lug nuts on the rear wheels--only about one turn--and then jack up the back of your car until the rear tires are no longer touching the ground. Place two jack stands beneath the rear axles to support the vehicle and finish removing the lug nuts and pull off the wheels.

3

Remove the brake drums from the wheel hub. Brake drums are located directly behind the wheels. They are placed on the wheel studs and cover the entire brake assembly. If they don't slide off of the wheel studs easily, they can be tapped with a hammer to loosen them. Do not strike the brake drums too hard, or they may warp and need to be replaced.

4

Examine the inside of the brake drums for excessive wear and scoring. If they are less than 1/8 inch thick, they need to be replaced. If they are still thick but have scoring or deep grooves, they can be taken to a machine shop to be resurfaced.

5

Inspect the brake shoe and linkage area. On the top is the wheel cylinder, which exerts pressure on the brake shoes, forcing them into the brake drum and providing stopping power for your vehicle. The brake shoes are on the left and right side. They are long and flat, and are attached with various springs and linkage. Some of the linkage is behind the wheel hub--the part that holds the wheel on and allows it to spin. If brake fluid has leaked on to any of these parts, you need to replace the wheel cylinders.

The brake linkage and hardware is fairly complex and most cars have slightly different designs. Complete the rest of the steps here one wheel at a time so that you can reference a properly assembled wheel to ensure everything goes back together correctly.

6

Remove the brake shoe return springs with the spring tool. This spring is located on the upper side of the brake linkage area. Depending on the vehicle, there may be one or two return springs per wheel. There may also be a spring located on the lower side, connecting the bottom of the brake shoes. Remove this as well if it is present.

7

Remove the spring retainer clips with the brake shoe removal tool. Each brake shoe has one spring retainer, facing you, inside the curve of the contact surface. Hold the rear of the clip, behind the brake assembly, so it doesn't spin freely while you are trying to unscrew it.

8

Remove the brake shoes and linkage. They will come apart easily without the retaining springs. Swap out the old brake shoes for the new ones. These match identically and must be placed on the correct side of the brake assembly.

9

Install the linkage and brake shoes the same way you took them off. Reference the brake assembly on the opposite wheel to ensure correct placement of the pieces. When everything is in place, screw in the brake shoe spring and retaining clip to hold it together.

10

Slide the brake drums back on and reinstall the wheels. Activate the emergency brake on your vehicle to tighten the lug nuts while the rear tires are still off of the ground.