How to Fix the Drum Brakes on a VW

Drum brakes are a type of braking system in which the brake pads and shoes are located within a drum housing that rotates with the wheel as it turns. Drum brakes are some of the oldest brake designs, with the exception of hand lever brakes used in the earliest automobiles. Many cars still use drum brakes today. Volkswagon, for example, uses drum brakes on the rear axle of many cars, including the Jetta and the Beetle. These brakes will eventually wear out and need repairs. Fortunately, fixing drum brakes on a VW is a straight forward procedure if you have auto repair experience and the right tools.

Instructions

1

Position the car in a good place to work. Park the VW on a flat, level surface with plenty of room to work. Engage the parking break before exiting the vehicle.

2

Remove the hub caps or wheel covers from both of the back tires on your VW. Use a lug wrench to break all of the lug nuts free on each of the back wheels. The do not have to be removed, but should receive 1/4-turn counterclockwise to make sure they can be removed easily when the car is elevated.

3

Elevate the rear end of the vehicle. Use the screw jack that is stored in the trunk of the VW. Place it under one of the pinch welds on the frame. Use the jack handle to turn the jack, raising the vehicle. Elevate it slightly higher than the desired height, then place jack stands under the rear axle, near each tire. Lower the jack onto the jack stands and allow them to support the weight of the car.

4

Use the lug wrench to finish removing all of the lug nuts from the rear wheels. Set the lug nuts aside for reuse at the end of the project. Slide the wheels off of the hub and place them aside. You now have direct access to the drum brakes on each side of the vehicle.

5

Take the drum off of the wheel hub to gain access to the brake pads and shoes. Inspect the drum for signs of rust or corrosion before removing it. If any is present, give the drum a few light taps with a hammer or rubber mallet before removing it. The drum should simply lift away from the hub.

6

Remove the brake spring from each brake. Attach a spring tool to the ends of the spring. Use the tool to compress and disconnect the spring so that it can be safely removed with any damage.

7

Attach a brake shoe removal tool to the brake's spring retainer, where the brake spring was removed. Press firmly into the spring retainer with the tool and rotate it counterclockwise to remove the brake shoe. Put the new brake shoe into position and lock it into place by turning the brake shoe tool clockwise.

8

Put the brake spring back into position. The spring should still be compressed inside the spring removal tool. Use the tool to slowly decompress the spring until it is open wide enough to clip onto the spring retainer.

9

Return the brake drum to its position to cover the brake assembly. The drum should easily slip right into place.

10

Put the wheels back onto the vehicle. Replace the lug nuts in their holes and tighten them as much as possible by hand.

11

Raise the jack by one turn so that the car will lift off of the jack stands. Remove the jack stands, then lower the jack all the way down.

12

Use the lug wrench to tighten the lug nuts down completely. This must be done after the car is on the ground so that the weight of the VW will prevent the wheel from turning as you tighten. Replace the hub caps or wheel covers.