Removing Rear Drum Brakes on a 92 GMC Truck

The tools required for replacing the rear brakes on your 1992 GMC truck can be found in most toolboxes. Labor rates are high , and you should do any of the maintenance that you can yourself to save money on repairs. You can complete this project in your garage or driveway, and a person with no experience working on trucks can expect each wheel to take about an hour to complete.

Instructions

1

Park the GMC truck on a level surface and place the wheel chocks behind the rear tires. Raise the truck with the automobile jack. Remove the lug nuts with the lug wrench and take the wheel off the truck.

2

Loosen the parking brake equalizer with the brake tool enough that you can easily pull the brake drum off the wheel. Remove the springs from the return shoe (the rear shoe) using the brake tool. Push the retaining spring in using the pliers while turning it -turn clockwise. Pull the shoe off the wheel assembly. Remove the retaining spring on the forward shoe the same way.

3

Remove the adjuster actuator and the adjuster lever from the forward shoe by pulling it out of the slot. Unclip the parking brake spring and strut using the pliers. Clean the backing plate and the springs thoroughly using the wire brush. Disconnect the parking brake lever from the rear shoe using the pliers to release the clip. Properly discard the old brake shoes.

4

Connect the parking brake lever to the new rear brake shoe. Install the shoe to the backing plate and secure it with the retaining spring and washer by turning it turn with the pliers. Place the forward shoe on the backing plate and secure it with the retaining spring and washer, using the pliers to push it in and turn it turn.

5

Lubricate the parking brake lever and springs with brake lubricant. Lubricate the self-adjuster and then turn it all the way in. Insert it into the slot between the brake pads. Connect the return spring to each of the brake shoes using the brake tool. Connect the parking brake cable to the rear brake shoe. Connect the spring to the top of the brake shoes using the brake tool.

6

Thoroughly inspect the brake drum and check for grooves and other damage. If there is damage present you will have to replace the drum or have it machined smooth at an automotive machine shop. In any case, make sure to clean the drum thoroughly with brake part cleaning solvent. Place the drum onto the wheel assembly. Replace the wheel on the truck and tighten the lug nuts with the lug wrench.

7

Remove the jack stand from under the GMC and lower the truck to the ground. Repeat the process on the other wheel. Before driving the truck, be sure to bleed the air from the brake lines by having someone pump the pedal several times and holding it, while you open the valve at the wheel cylinder to let out any air.