How to Install Brake Drums in a Chevy

Braking systems consist of many tiny pieces of equipment resting inside a brake drum on the wheel assembly. The brake drum keeps the brake shoes and pads in the proper position to slow down the tire when the brakes are activated by the driver. Cracked brake drums can reduce the braking ability of a vehicle and must be replaced quickly. Servicing the brake drum on your Chevy vehicle is a project that can take about three hours, depending on your mechanic skills.

Instructions

1

Release the parking brake in your Chevy vehicle before drum brake installation.

2

Raise the Chevy so that you can work comfortably underneath the axle receiving the new brake drum. Begin at the end of the car adjacent to the corner. Place the jack closer to the corner that must be raised. Operate the hydraulic jack to raise the car's end to about a foot. Raise a jack stand next to the jack to support the car. Repeat this on the corner's opposite side. Continue to raise the car in this fashion until you can comfortably work underneath the corner. Secure jack stands before removing the jack.

3

Lay down newspaper on the ground throughout the area you will be working in. Keep some shop towels nearby in case of any spills.

4

Remove the tire and wheel assembly. Use a socket wrench to loosen the appropriate bolts on the hub cap. Reference your model-specific Chevy user's manual to find out the proper wheel removal procedures.

5

Remove the previous brake drum from your Chevy vehicle prior to installation of the new brake drum. Place the brake drum through the hub bearing on the axle.

6

Thread the new brake drum through the hub bearing on the axle. Position the new brake drum so that the wheel cylinder will be located at the top of the brake drum.

7

Install the wheel cylinder onto the brake drum. Position the wheel cylinder in its proper space and tighten the brake line with a line wrench to secure the wheel cylinder. Tighten any bolts with your socket wrench.

8

Install the return springs into your drum brake with brake spring pliers.

9

Install brake shoes onto the brake drum. Secure the brake shoes with retaining clips. Tighten retaining clips with the retaining clip tool.

10

Install the parking brake struts and springs between the brake shoes in your brake drum. Use the brake spring pliers to secure the strut springs.

11

Attach the parking brake cable to the appropriate position on your brake drum.

12

Thread the tire and wheel assembly over the drum brake on your hub bearing. Use a socket wrench to tighten all bolts securing the hubcap to the hub.

13

Carefully decrease the height of your car. Support one side with the hydraulic jack. Lower the jack stand about one foot, and then lower the car slowly with the hydraulic jack. Repeat this on the corner's opposite side. Continue until the car returns to ground level.