How to Replace Brake Shoes on a Pajero

In terms of safety features, properly working brakes are probably one of the most important components of a passenger vehicle. While expert mechanics don't advise that you complete any brake work on your own car, you can do so if you pay careful attention to the brake's components as you work. Replacing the brake shoes on a Mitsubishi Pajero is not unlike replacing them on any other car, although the Pajero does have several unique mechanical features that factor into the job. Knowing what to expect will make replacing the brake shoes of your Pajero an accomplishable task.

Instructions

1

Remove the hubcaps and crack the nuts on the front wheels of your Pajero using a lug wrench. It is important to crack or loosen the nuts on the wheels before attempting to unscrew them entirely.

2

Raise your Pajero up on a 2.5 ton jack and support the car with two jackstands.

3

Unscrew the nuts on the driver's side front wheel and remove the wheel and tire.

4

Spray the front wheel's hub with a penetrating oil and allow the oil to sit for several minutes. Penetrating oil is a low-viscosity lubricant that allows you to unscrew rusted bolts and screws; it can be purchased at local hardware or automotive parts stores.

5

Remove the retaining clips that hold the existing brake drum in place, then unscrew the two anchoring screws that attach the drum to the car. You may need to cut the clips using a pair of wire snips.

6

Remove the brake drum.

7

Spray the brake drum as well as its connection points to the car with brake cleaner. This will remove excess debris, grime and oil from the mechanism, making it easier to both remove and replace the brake shoes.

8

Remove the old brake shoe return springs using the shoe return removal specialty tool. A return spring specialty tool is specifically designed to remove brake shoe return springs. It looks very similar to a screwdriver in overall design and it can be acquired at your local automotive parts store.

9

Depress the shoe's retaining pin while simultaneously removing the retainer springs.

10

Remove the old shoes by pulling them outward from the drum from both shoes, as though you are attempting to open a dog's mouth that is latched onto the brake drum.

11

Attach the new brake shoes in the opposite manner that you removed them.

12

Depress the shoe's retaining pin while simultaneously attaching the new retainer springs.

13

Reattach the new brake shoe return ring.

14

Reattach the brake drum to your Pajero by replacing the anchoring screws and retainer clips.

15

Repeat these steps on each wheel for which you need to replace the brake shoes.