How to Assemble a Rear Brake Drum System for a 2006 Jeep Wrangler 6-Cylinder

The 2006 Jeep Wrangler was available in six trim packages; SE, Rubicon, Unlimited Rubicon, X and Limited. The 2006 Wrangler 4.0-liter V-6 engine produced 190-horsepower and 235 foot-pounds of torque. The 2006 Wrangler drum brakes are somewhat difficult to remove and install because of the amount of hardware springs that have to be placed to set the shoes, self-adjuster and parking brake equipment. Proper adjusting of the new rear drum brakes is essential for optimal performance of the entire braking system.

Instructions

Drum Brake Removal

1

Loosen the rear wheel lug nuts on the Wrangler, using a tire iron. Raise the rear of the car, using a jack. Place jack stands beneath the rear axle housing, about one-foot inward from the rear wheels. Lower the Jeep onto the jack stands. Remove the lug nuts from the wheels completely, then remove the rear wheels.

2

Remove the nut springs from the face of the brake drum if equipped, using side cutters. If the drums do not come off the vehicle easily, remove the rubber stopper from the rear of the brake backing plate. Insert a flat-head screwdriver through the hole in the backing plate. Adjust the self-adjusting wheel with the screwdriver to release the brake shoes from the brake drum. Strike the drum on the forward and rearward facing sides, using a rubber mallet. Remove the brake drums from the Wrangler.

3

Remove the U-clip from the parking brake adjuster and parking brake pin. Use a brake drum hook tool, or flat-head screwdriver to remove the clip. Remove the two brake return springs from the shoes, using a drum brake hook tool. Remove the hold- down springs and caps from the retainer pin, using a cylindrical drum brake tool while holding the pin still with your finger on the rear of the backing plate.

4

Remove the brake adjuster screw, lever and spring, using the brake hook tool. Remove the spring from between the two brake shoes, using the hook tool. Remove the brake adjuster cable from the guide by hand, using the adjuster guide. Remove the brake shoes and strut bar from the brake backing plate.

5

Install the parking brake lever and pin to the new rearward or trailing brake shoe. Install a new U-clip onto the pin, and set it with your screwdriver. Install the parking brake over the lever. Install both forward and trailing brake shoes onto the backing plate. Secure each brake shoe to the backing plate in position, with a large C-clamp. Install the pin through the rear of the backing plate and hold it with your finger. Install the spring and cap, and rotate the cap into a plus shape with the pin, using your cylindrical brake tool.

6

Install the strut bar and spring between the two shoes. Install the middle return spring between the two shoes, using your hook tool to set the spring. Install the guide plate and self-adjuster cable onto the anchor pin above the wheel cylinder. Install the two return springs onto the shoes, using your hook tool. Install the adjuster cable onto the trailing brake shoe. Install the adjuster screw assembly between the two lower portions of the brake shoes. Push the shoes inward to lock the screw in place.

7

Install the adjuster screw spring and lever onto the bottom of the brake shoe and connect the adjuster to the cable. Push both brake shoes inward simultaneously to compress the wheel cylinder pistons completely and allow room for the new drums.

8

Spray the new drums thoroughly with aerosol brake parts cleaner to remove the factory protective oil film from the drums. Slide the new drums onto the brake assembly. Spin one lug nut against the outer face of the drum to hold it temporarily. Spin the drum while adjusting the self-adjuster screw through the backing plate until you can no longer turn the drum with your bare hands.

9

Repeat steps 2 through 8 to complete the drum brakes on the second side of the car. Remove the lug nuts from both brake drum faces once you have primarily set the drag on the rear drum brakes on both sides. Install the rear wheels onto the Jeep and tighten the lug nuts snug with a tire iron.

10

Spin both rear wheels while they are still in the air. If the wheel spins one complete rotation by hand, the rear brakes are set. If the wheel spins more than one rotation, the brakes are underadjusted. If the wheel spins less than one full rotation, the brakes are overadjusted. Adjust the self-adjuster through both rear backing plates until each wheel spins only one rotation by hand.

11

Raise the Wrangler off the jack stands and remove the stands from beneath the Jeep. Lower the Wrangler to the ground and tighten the rear wheel lug nuts to 110 foot-pounds of torque, using a 1/2-inch-drive torque wrench and wheel nut socket.