How to Remove the Brake Drum From a 2003 Ford Focus

The Focus was introduced in the 2000 model year to replace the Escort as the company's economy vehicle. The Focus comes standard with a transverse-mounted four-cylinder engine, five-speed manual transmission, and power brakes. While the Focus uses front disc brakes, the rear brakes are of the drum variety with internally-expanding brake shoes. The drum must be removed before any service can be performed on the rear brakes.

Instructions

1

Loosen, but do not remove the lug nuts on the rear wheels with a lug wrench. Raise one side of the rear of the car with a hydraulic or scissor jack using the jacking point on the bottom of the rocker panel just forward of the rear wheel. Place a jack stand under the rear suspension control arm. Lower the jack. Repeat this procedure to support the other side of the car. Do not apply the brake or the brake drum cannot be removed.

2

Remove the lug nuts with a lug wrench. Remove the rear wheels from the hubs and place them aside.

3

Locate the four bolts on the inside edge of the rear wheel control arm that attach to the wheel hub. Remove the bolts with a 13mm socket and a ratchet wrench in a counterclockwise direction. Place the bolts aside.

4

Press the retaining tab on the wiring connector for the rear wheel anti-lock braking system located on the inside of the wheel hub. Pull the connector from the wheel hub. Skip this step if your Focus does not have rear ABS brakes.

5

Pull the rear brake drum straight out from the wheel hub and remove it from the vehicle.