How to Change the Drum Brakes on a 1997 Civic

The 1997 Honda Civic uses two different kinds of brakes. In the front, it uses standard brake pads which squeeze the rotors and use friction to stop the wheels. In the rear, however, it uses what are known as drum brakes, which use special brake shoes that perform a similar function but are not used as heavily. The rear brakes do not have to be changed as often as the front brakes, but they do need replaced eventually. Switching out the drum brakes on a Civic can be a difficult task, particularly if you have little to no experience with auto maintenance. The job requires several specialized tools.

Instructions

1

Wedge a wooden block in front of each front tire. This will prevent the car from slipping forward once it's jacked up.

2

Jack up the rear of the Civic using the jack until the rear tires are about an inch off the ground. The jackpoint should be just underneath the trunk of the '97 Civic and is a solid surface that you can jack the car up with. Place a jackstand (or two to be safe) underneath to hold it in place.

3

Unbolt the lug nuts (there should be four of them) on one of the rear tires and put the nuts to the side. Grab the tire on both sides and pull it off to reveal the braking mechanism underneath.

4

Smack the outer drum with a hammer. Expect lots of rust and dirt to fall off. Once it's loosened, you can remove it with your hands, as there's nothing holding it on except pressure. You will not be able to damage the drum with the hammer, since it's made of iron, so keep hitting it until it's loose enough to pull off.

5

Remove the springs from each of the brake shoes with the brake springs tool. This spring holds the shoes together over the braking mechanism. It can be removed using the small hook at the end of the brake spring tool. Consult a diagram of the braking mechanism if you are having trouble locating it.

6

Hold back the retainer pin atop the brake shoes with one of your hands and simultaneously use your free hand to place the brake shoe removal tool over the pin. Push the brake shoe removal tool (which looks like a weird screwdriver) into the pin's tube and twist it counterclockwise until the shoes come off.

7

Mount the new brake shoes over the mechanism and turn the retaining pin clockwise to lock in the new shoes. Reattach the springs using the brake spring tool and pack the outer drum back onto the braking mechanism. Mount the tires and screw the lug nuts back in. Repeat Steps 3 through 7 with the other tire.