How Do I Replace the Back Brake Shoes on a 2003 Honda Civic?

The 2003 Honda Civic uses a drum brake system on the rear wheels to stop the vehicle. The part of the system that presses against the drum and experiences the most wear is the brake shoe. You need to replace the brake shoes any time your Civic experiences braking problems which are a safety hazard. Always replace all four back brake shoes on your 2003 Civic when one of them is worn down.

Instructions

1

Loosen the rear lug nuts with a lug wrench then raise the Civic's rear end with a jack. Support the car on jack stands and block the front wheels. Release the parking brake and remove the lug nuts completely. Pull off the rear wheels.

2

Pull the brake drum off of the axle and shoe assembly; if it does not slide off easily, ensure that you have fully released the parking brake. Clean the drum and brake shoe assembly with brake cleaner before continuing.

3

Press the retainer spring down with a screwdriver. Rotate the tension pin so that its blade is aligned with the slot in the retainer spring. Pull the brake shoe assembly off of the backing plate then disconnect the return spring.

4

Pull the parking brake cable spring back and grip the cable with a pair of pliers. Keep the spring compressed and disconnect the end of the cable from the parking brake lever. Swing the lever out so that it is away from the trailing shoe. Press the adjuster bolt clevis out of its groove and separate the two brake shoes.

5

Remove the adjustment lever and spring from the leading shoe. Separate the lever and shoe after prying open the retaining clip for the parking brake lever. Place a new trailing shoe onto the lever then place the washer over the pin. Install the retaining clip, making sure you crimp the ends of the clip with the pliers.

6

Clean the adjuster bolt with brake cleaner and lubricate the bolt and clevis with high-temperature grease. Reconnect the adjustment lever spring to the leading shoe and place the lever pin into the hole on the shoe from which it was removed. Place the clevis of the adjuster bolt into the appropriate slot on the leading brake shoe. Ensure it connects to the adjustment lever.

7

Reconnect the upper return spring between both brake shoes. Pry the bottom ends of the shoes apart and replace the clevis at the other end of the adjustment bolt into the proper slot in the brake shoe. Coat the brake shoe contact areas of the backing plate with high-temperature grease.

8

Compress the spring for the parking brake cable and hold it in this position while you reconnect the cable to the lever. Put the brake shoe assembly against the backing plate and be sure to engage the shoes with the proper slots in the pistons of the wheel cylinder. Reconnect the return spring at the lower end of the shoes.

9

Insert the tension pins through the holes in the backing plate and the brake shoes. Reinstall the retainer springs in their original position, and ensure that the lower return spring and parking brake cable are behind the anchor plate.

10

Place the drum assembly back onto the hub. Remount the wheel and reinstall the lug nuts. Repeat the process for the other rear wheel.

11

Use a jack to remove the car from the jack stands to complete the repair.