DRUM BRAKE OVERHAUL

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DRUM BRAKE OVERHAUL
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Many times when we first attempt doing something
we dont know how to do certain things. Or we
forget or dont remember if we have not done
something for a while. I have listed some
things to do when working on drum brakes please
let me know If I have forgotten anything. S.
Salisbury
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• Couple of things to think about when working on
  brakes.
• 1. Some ones life may hang in the balance if you
  do a poor or second rate job.
• 2. If you do not think a part will work right
  replace it.
• 3. Always put in new brake shoes, if the
  hardware has problems replace it and if the wheel
  cylinder is worn or pitted replace it. And last
  but not least inspect the hose for wear and
  cracks.

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• Jack up car and place safety stands in an
  appropriate place
• Remove wheel

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• Inspect wheel studs and lug nuts(replace if
  necessary)Notice 1 stud shorter then the rest

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Remove drum

• If first time drum has been off may have to
  remove clip on the studs

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• Some drums will slide right off, others may have
  to be hit with a hammer to free up. Some imports
  have two holes to install a bolt in to force off
  tighten each with equal pressure.

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• Some drums may need the star wheel backed off if
  all else fails hook up a brake drum puller.
  Before you get too crazy make sure the parking
  brake is off.

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• inspect drums for grooves and out of roundness,
  mic and check for oversize
• Inspect shoes and brake parts
• Inspect brake lines and hoses

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• any broken or worn parts should be replaced
• Check for leaking wheel cylinder

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• If needing replacement clean the brake assembly
  then remove all parts
• CAUTION do not blow off with compress air
• Use a Vacuum system designed to clean the brakes
  or a low pressure washer to clean the brake
  assembly.
• note how it was all installed take a picture or
  find page in service manual that has a good
  picture of all the pieces.
• clean backing plate with wire brush

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• contact points on backing plate are called a shoe
  pad. They should be filed flat to prevent shoes
  from hanging up in deep grooves or better yet
  just replace the backing plate. (4-6 per backing
  plate)

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• Remove wheel cylinders if necessary to hone and
  rebuild

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• make sure you remove the wheel cylinder bleeder
  screws and clean the passage in it. No sense
  rebuilding it if froze in the cylinder
• use brake fluid as a honing fluid
• do not hone over .006

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• if you cannot get all the pitting out, replace
  the wheel cylinder

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• Lightly coat the wheel cylinder cup and pistons
  and reassemble and reinstall on backing plate
• clean backing plate and lube shoe pad with a thin
  coat of grease
• install new brake shoes

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• make sure springs are not stretched
• make sure the sharp points on the star wheel are
  not worn and the adjuster that comes in contact
  with star points is not worn
• reinstall all parts

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• readjust shoes to fit drum, use a brake drum
  gauge if you have one and replace brake drum

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• if drum will not go on, back off parking brake
  adjustment
• sometimes someone will tighten up the parking
  brake before they check the adjustment of the
  service brakes.
• make sure shoes are adjusted so a slight drag is
  felt

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• bleed brakes until clear and free of bubbles
• brake fluid absorbs moisture and collects dirt,
  needs to be changed ever so often

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• check brake shoes adjustment - slight drag
  with wheels on

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• check parking brake adjustment

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• if bearings are removed and are not sealed be
  sure to clean and repack bearings and replace the
  grease seals.

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• Replace the wheel and torque down the lug nuts

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The End