Drum brakes are a typical sort of brake discovered on vehicles and different automobiles. They include a rotating drum that’s hooked up to the wheel, and a set of brake footwear that press in opposition to the within of the drum to sluggish or cease the automobile.
There are occasions when it could be essential to take away a drum brake, corresponding to when changing the brake footwear or repairing the drum itself. Eradicating a drum brake is usually a comparatively easy activity, however you will need to comply with the right steps to keep away from damaging the brake elements. On this article, we are going to present a step-by-step information on tips on how to take away a drum brake safely and successfully.
Earlier than starting, you will need to collect the mandatory instruments and supplies. You will want a lug wrench, a jack, a jack stand, a hammer, a screwdriver, and a pair of pliers. After getting gathered your instruments, you may start the method of eradicating the drum brake.
Security Precautions
Earlier than you start working in your drum brakes, it is essential to take some security precautions to guard your self and your automobile.
First, be sure that your automobile is parked on a stage floor and that the parking brake is engaged. It will assist to forestall your automobile from rolling when you are engaged on it.
Subsequent, you will want to assemble the mandatory instruments for the job. This features a socket wrench, a torque wrench, a flathead screwdriver, and a hammer. After getting your entire instruments, you may start the method of eradicating the drum brakes.
It is also essential to put on security glasses and gloves when working in your brakes. It will assist to guard you from brake mud and different hazardous supplies.
Extra Security Suggestions
- By no means work in your brakes whereas the automobile is operating
- All the time use the right instruments for the job
- If you’re not comfy working in your brakes, it’s best to take your automobile to a mechanic
By following these security precautions, you may assist to make sure that you might have a secure and profitable expertise when eradicating your drum brakes.
| Instrument | Description |
|---|---|
| Socket wrench | Used to take away the lug nuts and bolts that maintain the drum in place |
| Torque wrench | Used to tighten the lug nuts and bolts to the right torque |
| Flathead screwdriver | Used to pry the brake footwear away from the drum |
| Hammer | Used to faucet the brake drum unfastened whether it is caught |
Supplies Required
1. Security Glasses
2. Jack Stands
3. Lug Wrench
4. Brake Cleaner
5. Brake Line Wrench
6. Drum Brake Instrument
7. Gloves
8. Torque Wrench
Disconnecting the Brake Strains and Eradicating the Drums
As soon as the wheel is eliminated, you will have to disconnect the brake line. To do that, use a brake line wrench to loosen the brake line from the wheel cylinder. As soon as the brake line is disconnected, you may take away the brake drum.
To take away the brake drum, insert the drum brake instrument into the slot on the again of the brake drum. Flip the drum brake instrument clockwise to take away the brake drum from the axle.
| Security Precautions |
|---|
| -All the time put on security glasses when working in your automobile. -Use jack stands to help the automobile when you are engaged on it. -By no means work on a automobile that’s supported solely by a jack. -Watch out to not injury the brake strains if you end up disconnecting them. -All the time torque the lug nuts to the right specs if you end up reassembling the wheel. -By no means drive a automobile with a brake system that isn’t working correctly. |
Eradicating the Wheel
1. Park the automobile on a stage floor and have interaction the parking brake.
2. Loosen the lug nuts on the wheel you’re eradicating, however don’t take away them utterly.
3. Elevate the automobile utilizing a jack and place a jack stand beneath the body for security.
4. Take away the lug nuts and pull the wheel straight off the axle.
Eradicating the Drum
1. Take away the cotter pin from the fortress nut on the spindle.
2. Use a socket wrench to loosen the fortress nut, however don’t take away it utterly.
3. Grip the brake drum with each palms and pull it straight off the spindle. The drum could also be caught, so you could want to make use of a rubber mallet to softly faucet it unfastened.
| Drum Brake Varieties | Removing Technique |
|---|---|
| Main-shoe sort | Pull the drum straight off the spindle. |
| Trailing-shoe sort | Rotate the drum barely till the brake footwear clear the backing plate, then pull the drum straight off the spindle. |
Inspecting the Brake Drum
1. As soon as the drum is eliminated, examine it for any indicators of damage or injury.
2. Examine the within of the drum for any scoring or grooving.
3. Examine the brake footwear for any indicators of damage or contamination.
4. If any of the elements are worn or broken, they need to get replaced.
Eradicating the Drum Brake Adjuster
Step 5: Take away the adjuster screw(s)
The adjuster screw(s) are sometimes positioned on the again of the brake plate and are used to regulate the brake footwear. To take away the adjuster screw(s), you will have to make use of a flathead screwdriver or a brake adjuster instrument.
For single-adjuster brakes:
| Description | Removel Directions |
|---|---|
| Star wheel adjuster | Push the adjusting lever away from the brake backing plate and take away the star wheel utilizing a flathead screwdriver. |
| Eccentric adjuster | Flip the adjusting nut counterclockwise utilizing a brake spoon wrench or a flathead screwdriver. |
For self-adjusting brakes:
Self-adjusting brake adjusters wouldn’t have screws that must be eliminated. As an alternative, they work routinely to regulate the brake footwear as they put on.
Disassembling the Backing Plate
With the drum and hub meeting eliminated, now you can disassemble the backing plate.
This is a step-by-step information:
- Begin by eradicating the brake footwear. They’re sometimes held in place by springs or clips. Use a screwdriver or pliers to rigorously take away them.
- Subsequent, take away the wheel cylinder. It’s often bolted to the backing plate. Use a wrench to loosen the bolts and thoroughly take away the wheel cylinder.
- Now, take away the parking brake cable. It’s often hooked up to the backing plate with a bracket or clip. Use a wrench or pliers to rigorously take away the bracket or clip and disconnect the cable.
- Subsequent, take away the axle shaft. It’s held in place by a nut or bolt. Use a wrench to loosen the nut or bolt and thoroughly take away the axle shaft.
- Lastly, take away the backing plate. It’s often bolted to the axle housing. Use a wrench to loosen the bolts and thoroughly take away the backing plate.
- Examine the backing plate for any indicators of damage, injury or corrosion. Examine the flange the place it mates with the axle housing. If the flange is worn or broken, it could must be changed. Additionally, search for any cracks or bends within the backing plate. If the backing plate is cracked or bent, it’s going to must be changed.
Earlier than reassembling the drum brake system, you will need to clear and examine the entire elements. It will assist to make sure that the system is working correctly and safely.
Eradicating the Drum Brake Footwear
Step 7: Unhooking the Spring Stress
As soon as the cotter pins are eliminated, you will must rigorously disengage the springs that maintain the footwear in place. There are sometimes two forms of springs: hold-down springs and return springs.
To launch the hold-down springs, use a flathead screwdriver to pry the loops of the spring away from the brake footwear. Be cautious to not injury the springs or the footwear.
The return springs connect to the brake footwear and the backing plate. To disconnect them, merely use a pair of pliers to squeeze the spring loops and launch them from the hooks or pins on the backing plate.
Keep in mind, the strain of the springs can nonetheless trigger the footwear to leap when launched, so take further care. As soon as the springs are unhooked, you may gently pull the brake footwear away from the backing plate and take away them.
| Sort of Spring | Motion |
|---|---|
| Maintain-Down Spring | Retains brake footwear in touch with drum |
| Return Spring | Returns brake footwear to their resting place |
Brake Adjustment
If you happen to’re experiencing any points together with your drum brakes, it is essential to regulate them correctly. This is a step-by-step information on tips on how to do it:
1. Park the automobile on a stage floor: Make sure the parking brake is engaged.
2. Find the brake adjuster: The brake adjuster is usually positioned on the again of the brake backing plate.
3. Insert a flat-head screwdriver into the adjuster slot: Flip the adjuster clockwise to tighten the brakes or counterclockwise to loosen them.
4. Alter the brakes till there’s a slight drag when the wheel is turned by hand: The wheel mustn’t lock up.
5. Examine the brake fluid stage: If it is low, high it up.
6. Check the brakes: Drive the automobile at a low velocity and apply the brakes gently. They need to really feel agency and responsive.
7. Re-check the brake adjustment and fluid stage: After driving for a brief distance, re-check the brake adjustment and fluid stage to make sure the whole lot is working accurately.
Wheel Cylinder Inspection
If you happen to discover any leaks or injury to the wheel cylinder, it’s going to must be changed. This is tips on how to examine the wheel cylinder:
| Examine | Steps |
|---|---|
| Leaks | Study the wheel cylinder for any indicators of fluid leaks or stains. |
| Injury | Examine the wheel cylinder for any cracks, dents, or different injury. |
| Seals | Examine the rubber seals on the wheel cylinder for any indicators of damage or injury. |
If you happen to discover any points with the wheel cylinder, it is beneficial to switch it to make sure correct brake performance.
Remaining Inspection
After getting reassembled the brake elements, it is essential to conduct a last inspection to make sure correct performance and security. Listed below are the important thing steps concerned within the last inspection:
10. Complete Visible Inspection
Totally examine your complete brake meeting for any unfastened or incorrectly put in elements. Make sure that all bolts, nuts, and screws are correctly tightened and safe. Examine for any indicators of harm or put on on the brake footwear, drums, or different elements. If you happen to discover any points, handle them promptly.
| Merchandise | Inspection Standards |
|---|---|
| Brake footwear | Examine for put on, cracks, or contamination |
| Brake drums | Examine for scoring, put on, or overheating |
| Springs and clips | Guarantee correct stress and safe attachment |
| Wheel cylinders | Search for leaks or injury to the housing |
How one can Take a Drum Brake Off
Drum brakes are a kind of automotive brake that makes use of a rotating drum to use friction to a stationary brake shoe, slowing or stopping the automobile. Drum brakes are typically much less efficient than disc brakes, however they’re additionally cheaper and simpler to take care of. If you should take a drum brake off, comply with these steps:
- Park the automobile on a stage floor and have interaction the parking brake.
- Loosen the lug nuts on the wheel that you can be engaged on, however don’t take away them.
- Jack up the automobile and help it with jack stands.
- Take away the lug nuts and take off the wheel.
- Take away the cotter pin from the fortress nut on the brake drum.
- Loosen the fortress nut, however don’t take away it.
- Use a drum brake puller to drag the brake drum off of the axle.
- As soon as the brake drum is off, you may disconnect the brake line from the wheel cylinder.
- Take away the brake footwear from the backing plate.
- Examine the brake footwear and change them if essential.
- Reassemble the brake in reverse order.
Folks Additionally Ask
How do I do know if my drum brakes must be changed?
There are just a few indicators that your drum brakes could must be changed, together with:
- Squealing or grinding noises while you brake
- A lower in braking energy
- A pulsating feeling within the brake pedal
- Leaking brake fluid
- Worn or cracked brake footwear
How a lot does it value to switch drum brakes?
The price of changing drum brakes will differ relying on the make and mannequin of your automobile, in addition to the labor prices in your space. Nonetheless, you may count on to pay between $100 and $300 for components and labor.
Can I change drum brakes myself?
Changing drum brakes is a comparatively easy job that may be performed with primary instruments. Nonetheless, you will need to comply with the steps rigorously and to examine the brakes often for put on and tear.
