drum brakes

[Tannerm]

Is it difficult to replace shoes on these? These are confusing to me and I am doing the front brakes later today and was wondering if an average joe can do these or if I should wait.

[Vertnut]

I grew up on drum brakes, and I hate 'em. That said, it's pretty easy to do. Just pay attention to the way they come apart, and go right back the same. Check those cylinders for leaks (it's common). They are easy to replace also, but you'll need to bleed it if you crack into the system. Like rotors, drums can be turned if they've got grooves in them.

[RedPony07]

Just pull both drums keep one side intact as a reference or if you have a digital camera take a pic.

[Tannerm]

Howmuch does autozone charge for turning rotors and drums?

[Cooter]

Drums are cake. as stated above, just leave one side intact for reference

[turbostang]

Drums are cake. as stated above, just leave one side intact for reference

+1 for leaving one side intact. I'd also take that one step further and buy the cheapo spring removal/install tool, it'll save you some frustrations.

[Cooter]

I've tried to use that tool... never had any luck with it. vise grips FTW

[turbostang]

... I've had more than one kind of those tools, they seem to be a hit or miss, but the one I have now seems to be pretty good, or it was for the last job I did. I've launched a few springs with visegrips too.

[Magnimike1]

Howmuch does autozone charge for turning rotors and drums?

We do not turn rotors or drums. Oreilly stilll does. In some cases it is a few dollars cheaper to just get new ones. I would buy new rotors and turn the drums. My opinion...

Most places charge from 7-15 a piece to turn.

[RuStYpNuS]

If I plan on keeping the car for longer than a month then I typically buy all new shit.....jab jab jab

[Tannerm]

If I plan on keeping the car for longer than a month then I typically buy all new shit.....jab jab jab

_|_

[Chritaka]

I've tried to use that tool... never had any luck with it. vise grips FTW

I have some needle nose vise grips that work like a champ...

Drums aren't too bad unless you replace all of the springs, etc. Even then it's not hard, just takes some time and patience. Like other said, leave one side intact for reference.

[TENGRAM]

I've tried to use that tool... never had any luck with it. vise grips FTW

side cutters work very well also. They won't cut through the spring, just bite into it enough that the spring won't slip out.

[Doug Hatton]

X ? on the keeping one side intact comments above. To the untrained eye, you'd swear there were 300 moving parts inside that drum! LOL! Overall, a pretty simple swap. I used needlenose pliers to remove the spring retainers. You might do some checking of the "self adjustment" mechanism to ensure the pads are hitting the drum after you're done. Mine was WAY off for whatever reason.

[Trick Pony]

Just be careful doing the springs if you are using pliers. It's possible to poke your eye out if you slip and are yanking towards you.