97 Dodge Ram 1500 rear brake problem...BIG PROBLEM

[ram57ta]

Buddy of mine was letting his dad use his truck a couple days ago and then his dad said the brakes quit working. We made an assumption the master cylinder went out so we changed it out and when we started trying to bleed it found a massive leak at the rear passenger's hub. We tore the brake shoe off and found THIS:



This is how its supposed to be:



This stud is NOT removable from what I can tell...and replacing the backplate will require removal of the axle. Anyone got any suggestions? Im contemplating drilling out the broken stud, tapping it, and then installing a hardened grade 8 bolt as the spring anchor. Anyone?

[kingjason]

Four bolts to pull the axle? I would just get a new backing plate. I bet that piece would be a treat to drill through.



Orrrrr a disc conversion. I mean while its off and all.

[silverhatch]

Brakes = no short cuts. do it right its not that much work.

[shumpertdavid]

Brakes = no short cuts. do it right its not that much work.

This is very very true. I do think that your idea of using the grade 8 bolt would likely work fine, but that kind of mod is only recommended on your personal vehicle. Liabilities of modifying someone else's is too great in the event it were to fail and cause an accident.

[petyweestraw]

Would it work? You betcha. But it'd be easier to to pull the axle than to drill that shit out.

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[racrguy]

Quit bein' lazy and just replace the backing plate!

[garycrist]

Bet you were a tad past the rivets...

[ram57ta]

Quit bein' lazy and just replace the backing plate!

Guys this aint my truck for one...and for two he's putting it up for sale the minute he gets the brakes working because he wants something more economical to drive. He wants to spend as little as necessary to fix it.

[ram57ta]

Bet you were a tad past the rivets...

yeah....when I pulled the drum off most of the parts that were in it fell out in pieces.

[racrguy]

Guys this aint my truck for one...and for two he's putting it up for sale the minute he gets the brakes working because he wants something more economical to drive. He wants to spend as little as necessary to fix it.

So it's cool to just half ass a repair on the braking system? Seems pretty sketchy to me, to use a bolt. Hit up a junk yard, I bet they can be had pretty reasonable.

[slow84lx]

Guys this aint my truck for one...and for two he's putting it up for sale the minute he gets the brakes working because he wants something more economical to drive. He wants to spend as little as necessary to fix it.

Passing a half assed brake repair onto an unsuspecting new owner just isn't right. Y'all are going to spend more time, effort, & almost as much money to rig it as you would if you fixed it correctly.

[YALE]

Passing a half assed brake repair onto an unsuspecting new owner just isn't right. Y'all are going to spend more time, effort, & almost as much money to rig it as you would if you fixed it correctly.

This. Fix it right, or take no part in doing it wrong.