Just wondering, short of taking off the rear wheels and measuring, is there a way to find out if I have 9 or 10 inch drums on the rear? Didn't see it in the owners manual or anything. I didn't even realize there were two different rear brakes used, till i went to get some shoes at the parts store today. I guess if i can't figure it out, I'll just buy both and then return the unused one. Also, is the brake cylinder clamp tool necessary to change the rear shoes, or just a helpful item?

I have a 98 reg. cab 4x4 3.0 3.73 rear, non LS

Thanks for any help in advance.

 

I just went through this, the drum are stamped with the size, my 2000 SC has 10s, the 2002 std cab longbed has 9s, both are 2 wd.

 

how do you know when you need to replace drums

 

Take the drums to a parts store to have the checked to make sure they are no worn out. On older rangers 4cyl and 3.0 had 9in and the 4.0 trucks had 10in drums, but check the stamping on the outside of the drum or remove it to be sure.

 

If the drum are smooth your OK.

 

Thanks a lot for all the help...will be changing the shoes on thursday. If the drums look junked up, just gonna replace them too.

 

I just replaced the shoes on my 99 ranger 4x4 and I also replaced all the springs and self adjusters. One of the wheel cylinders was bad too so what was going to be an easy job turned into a half day project. At least it's all done for awhile until the next problem.

 

Is there anyway to tell from the door codes? I think mine says BRK: D. I am going to get a second set of rotors/drums to make brake jobs quicker.....

 

Mine were 10". The tool is helpful but not necessary....good channel locks can make do.

 

and to throw something else out there...I just pulled 2 drums off a junkyard 2000 2wd 4cyl.

one had a w-10 and the other said w-9. But the MM numbers were the same and when laid up against each other they both were the same size.....

 

My truck has 10 inch drums on it but not sure what yours has on it.

 

measure. its the only way to really be sure. mine has the higher g.v.w.r. and has 10" brakes. the cheap china replacements have no numbers on them at all.

 

The number that was the same MM was either 265.5 or 365.5. But like I said, one said w9 and the other w10. Does anyone have door jam data plate decoder info for the brake codes? All the ones I have seen dont list the brake codes. Mine is "D".

 

Mine have the metric size stamped on the outer edge. Mine has 255 or so meaning they are 10 inch. I think 9 inch in metric is around 229. Mine also has W12 on one and W9 on the other, but I have no idea what those mean.