On the Toyota Camry and many other vehicles, the brake drums are situated next to the rear wheels. The brake shoe assemblies, which are primarily used with the parking brake, are hidden by these drums. To work on or replace the brake shoes, you must first remove the brake drums. You’ll probably need to remove both drums at once since if one pair of shoes needs to be changed, the others will probably as well.
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Step 3
Using the lug wrench, take off the lug nuts and the rear wheel. To remove the nuts, follow the “five-star” pattern, starting as near the nut you just removed as possible.
Step 4
Use chalk or paint to indicate the location of the brake drum in respect to the wheel hub. To ensure that you don’t change the dynamic balance of the hub and brake system when reconnecting the drum, use these marks.
Step 5
Any pressed washers securing the drum to the hub should be clipped from the studs. Use pliers for cutting. When you reattach the drum, these washers don’t need to be changed.
Pull the brake drum away. If it’s stuck, take out the plug from the assembly’s back, put a screwdriver in the gap, and crank the star wheel adjustment to move the brake shoes so the drum may be removed.
Can I change my own drum brakes?
The most often utilized braking system on many modern automobiles is the drum brake. Drum brakes are still extremely often utilized, despite the fact that disc brakes have mostly replaced them on the front and rear axles of automobiles. They serve as the vehicle’s parking brake most of the time and are often located on the back axle of a vehicle.
The design and functionality of disc and drum brakes differ greatly, despite the fact that both are widespread across all vehicle platforms and are safe and reliable braking solutions. Instead of brake pads covering a disc brake rotor, drum brakes use friction-lined brake shoes inside of a drum. In return for the straight-ahead braking force and heat dissipation of a disc brake system, this design enables them to have a longer service life and a lower manufacturing cost than those found with disc brakes. Because the majority of a vehicle’s braking force is applied to the front wheels during braking, most vehicles with drum brakes will often have disc brakes up front and drums down back.
While drum brakes do operate in a completely different manner from disc brakes, they are typically not any more complex to fix and frequently only need a simple set of hand tools and a drum brake adjustment tool. We will go through how to disassemble and replace the drums, shoes, and hardware, as well as how to correctly adjust the drag of the brake shoes inside the drum, in this step-by-step manual on how to service a conventional drum brake system.
How much should it cost to repair a rear drum brake?
Depending on the type of vehicle you drive and the sort of service facility you use, the typical cost to replace a brake drum ranges from $275 to $399.
How long does it take to repair drum brakes?
Drum brake replacement is simpler than most people realize. The layout of drum brakes differs from that of disc brakes. They also operate in various ways. But replacing them is just as simple. A few specialized instruments are required for the job, but they are all rather affordable. You might be able to borrow them from your nearby car parts shop. A is advantageous.
- tool for adjusting drum brakes
- pliers for brake springs
- tool for holding the brakes
Unlike the springs on struts, brake springs are relatively tiny and safe to remove. However, some specialized tools are needed.
Depending on the vehicle in question. The entire process of changing a pair of shoes and drums often takes two hours. However, it can take more time if you also need to replace other parts. Drum brakes are known for their extended lifespan, thus it makes sense to replace the wheel cylinder, adjuster, and springs at the same time as the drums and shoes.
Drum brake replacement is a simple task if you have the necessary equipment and materials.
Are specific tools required to change drum brakes?
Get the proper shoes and hardware for your brake system before you start working. It only makes sense to spend a little extra money on a new set of springs because they undergo heat cycles and lose some of their springiness with time. To make your life easier when working on drum brakes, you’ll also need a few specialized tools. A drum brake spring tool and a set of drum brake spring pliers are required. These are frequently available in sets. To disassemble everything, you’ll also need basic equipment like pliers, a hammer, and other hand tools.
To begin, elevate and support the car in an appropriate and safe manner, remove one of the front wheels, and then take out the spindle nut and cotter key. A washer and a wheel bearing ought to be located behind the spindle nut. Again, these designs vary significantly by manufacturer and year, so consult your service manual before diving in headfirst. You ought to be able to safely remove the drum after the bearings are out of the way.
After changing shoes, do drum brakes need to be bled?
First off, you aren’t truly bleeding brakes; rather, you are removing air bubbles that may have developed prior to pouring fresh brake fluid by bleeding fluid and air out of the braking system.
When should you bleed your brakes?
- when the brakes begin to feel soft.
- As part of good preventive maintenance, once a year.
- when pauses take longer and you start to lose confidence.
- if you discover a leak Air may also be let in through leaks in addition to fluid. Bleeding your brakes after fixing the leak is the only way to ensure that your system isn’t affected by an air bubble.
- if you’re changing out worn-out brake pads, as this could lead to air getting into the master cylinder. More brake fluid is needed while braking with worn brake pads, which empties the reservoir and leaves room for air.
- if you replace your brake pads or rotors. For the purpose of safety, every brake job needs to include a brake bleed.
How can you tell if your rear drum brakes need replacement?
Signs of a Faulty Brake Drum
- Grinding or scraping sounds.
- Reduced Brake Pedal.
- Pedal That Is Soft.
- the brake pedal pulsing.
- Fade mechanically.
- Fading Lining.
- Fuel Fades.
- Water ages.
The rear brakes are not present.
Most people seem to just be aware of the fact that front brakes go on the front of the automobile and rear brakes go on the back when discussing the distinctions between the two types of brakes. The reality is that your two sets of brakes are made to do quite different things, so it’s critical for any driver who wants to keep their car in good shape to understand how they were made and what they do. so that driving them is safe and comfortable.
The purpose of the brakes is why they come in a variety of designs. Automotive brakes must be constructed to withstand tremendous stresses and temperature fluctuations since they are intended to transform kinetic energy into heat energy. The brakes don’t heat up at the same rate as the rest of the car because of how the forces and mass are distributed as the car travels. Instead, the set in front generates the majority of the heat and offers the most of the stopping force. The pair in the back, however, provide stability, helping with emergency maneuvers and assisting in avoiding spinouts and rollovers.
There are a few components that are virtually always included in front brake designs because of their particular physical requirements:
- Heavy clamping force is delivered by the master cylinder’s high pressure.
- Their power is increased by larger brake pad surface areas and more aggressive pads.
- This is made easier by larger, multi-piston brake calipers.
- To help with cooling, thicker and larger-diameter brake rotors are also softened.
Your brakes should be evaluated if you hear squealing, observe that they gradually lose stopping power, or discover that your brake fluid has unexpectedly dropped below the full line without a leak. Inadequate front brake maintenance might result in caliper failure or other serious issues.
Regardless of the manufacturer, back brakes have a few common design elements with front brakes. These are often smaller, lower pressure braking components that either have a design similar to the front brakes’ but with smaller shoes and less requirement for heat dissipation, or they can be drum brakes.
How long do a car’s rear drum brakes last?
With the right care and maintenance, drum brakes can typically be expected to last between 150,000 and 200,000 miles. They typically require new brake shoes every 30,000 to 40,000 miles. Of course, the environments your car is subjected to over time will also have an effect on the drum brakes’ wear.
How frequently should rear brake drums be changed?
Drum brake housings are made to last typically between 150,000 and 200,000 miles, whereas the shoes are only expected to last 40,000 miles, yet they can survive the whole life of the automobile if the driver uses them properly.
Are replacement costs for drum brakes higher than those for disc brakes?
A drum brake comprises of a little round drum with two brake shoes and pistons inside. Next to the car’s wheel, the drum revolves. Pressurized brake fluid is sent to the drum brake when the driver depresses the brake pedal, forcing the pistons to push into the brake shoes. The result of this motion is friction that slows the wheel’s rotation when the brake shoes press against the sides of the drum.
- less costly. Drum brakes are less expensive than disc brakes, and the price of a new car reflects this cost differential. A automobile with disc brakes on all four wheels will cost more than one with disc brakes on the front wheels and drum brakes on the back, all other things being equal. Drum brakes are also more reasonably priced to maintain due to their lower cost.
- less efficient when it’s raining. Water has a propensity to collect inside drum brakes under damp circumstances. This has an adverse effect on braking effectiveness.
- less efficient in removing heat. Braking causes friction, which can generate a lot of heat. Drum brakes are less adept at handling this heat than disc brakes are, and they frequently become hotter with continued usage. They are more vulnerable to brake fade as a result.
Are brake fluid used with drum brakes?
Modern automobiles occasionally have drum brakes on the rear axle, while earlier models had them on the front wheels as well. Drum brakes and disc brakes operate on the same principles, despite the fact that they are very different. When the brake pedal is depressed, brake fluid flows via the brake lines, pushing the wheel cylinder pistons out and pushing the brake shoes up against the drums. The brake pedal will feel spongy if there is air in the lines, just like with disc brakes. You will need some new brake fluid and a helper to bleed drum brakes.