Rear drum brake replacement
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 219
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From: Cheshire Massachusetts
Rear drum brake replacement
Hey Guys, been struggling with my rear brakes. They constantly loose adjustment and never seem to work the way they are supposed to.
I am planning on overhauling them soon and was looking for some advice on what to replace and some diagrams.
I am planing on replacing the shoes, all the springs and then replacing the auto adjusting mechanism. Does anyone have any other recommendations for replacement parts and also does anyone have some pictures or diagrams to work off of.
Thanks!
89 F350 dually 1-ton zf-5 460
I am planning on overhauling them soon and was looking for some advice on what to replace and some diagrams.
I am planing on replacing the shoes, all the springs and then replacing the auto adjusting mechanism. Does anyone have any other recommendations for replacement parts and also does anyone have some pictures or diagrams to work off of.
Thanks!
89 F350 dually 1-ton zf-5 460
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,171
Likes: 20
From: Denton, TX
I've adjusted mine a few times when they would make a little noise under very light braking, like in a parking lot, etc, thinking they needed to be tightened. They always loosened up again to just drag again under light braking. I think they are designed to engage under heavy braking and be loose as you describe. If you want more light braking feel a disk brake swap may help, but not sure if they really give you more heavy load braking, just more light pedal feedback.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 196
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From: Milwaukee, Wi
New hardware should fix everything, the adjuster gets pretty gunked up with grease, dirt and brake dust.
Word of advice. If you're going to overhaul the brakes and buy any new hardware, BUY EVERYTHING NEW! Buy the springs, the adjuster, everything. When I did my rear drum brakes I bought new drums, shoes, and springs but I did not buy the adjuster kit. Because I tried mixing the factory hardware with the new hardware the tolerances did not fit correctly and the drum would not slide on. Resulted in a lot of frustration until I bought that too and they slid right on.
Just as an example, you should probably buy both kits like this or if you can find one big one with all of it together
Buy Wearever Drum Brake Self-Adjuster Repair Kit 2545 at Advance Auto Parts
Buy Wearever Drum Brake Hardware Combi-Kit 7071 at Advance Auto Parts
Just trying to save you the time that I wasted, I guess it should have been common sense but oh well.
Word of advice. If you're going to overhaul the brakes and buy any new hardware, BUY EVERYTHING NEW! Buy the springs, the adjuster, everything. When I did my rear drum brakes I bought new drums, shoes, and springs but I did not buy the adjuster kit. Because I tried mixing the factory hardware with the new hardware the tolerances did not fit correctly and the drum would not slide on. Resulted in a lot of frustration until I bought that too and they slid right on.
Just as an example, you should probably buy both kits like this or if you can find one big one with all of it together
Buy Wearever Drum Brake Self-Adjuster Repair Kit 2545 at Advance Auto Parts
Buy Wearever Drum Brake Hardware Combi-Kit 7071 at Advance Auto Parts
Just trying to save you the time that I wasted, I guess it should have been common sense but oh well.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 173
Likes: 0
I would get all new parts except backing plates.
Also plan on replacing the hub seals if it is a sterling FF. The seals are expensive at around $40. each side plus I would pay a shop to install them.
The bearings are probably fine but inspect/replace if required.
The hardest part will be those heavy shoe hold down springs; they love to eat human fingers. I made a tool to compress them and save my fingers!
Prior to disassembly take some pictures of both sides because drum brakes can be complicated!!
Also plan on replacing the hub seals if it is a sterling FF. The seals are expensive at around $40. each side plus I would pay a shop to install them.
The bearings are probably fine but inspect/replace if required.
The hardest part will be those heavy shoe hold down springs; they love to eat human fingers. I made a tool to compress them and save my fingers!
Prior to disassembly take some pictures of both sides because drum brakes can be complicated!!
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 219
Likes: 1
From: Cheshire Massachusetts
I would get all new parts except backing plates.
Also plan on replacing the hub seals if it is a sterling FF. The seals are expensive at around $40. each side plus I would pay a shop to install them.
The bearings are probably fine but inspect/replace if required.
The hardest part will be those heavy shoe hold down springs; they love to eat human fingers. I made a tool to compress them and save my fingers!
Prior to disassembly take some pictures of both sides because drum brakes can be complicated!!
Also plan on replacing the hub seals if it is a sterling FF. The seals are expensive at around $40. each side plus I would pay a shop to install them.
The bearings are probably fine but inspect/replace if required.
The hardest part will be those heavy shoe hold down springs; they love to eat human fingers. I made a tool to compress them and save my fingers!
Prior to disassembly take some pictures of both sides because drum brakes can be complicated!!
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4,728
Likes: 8
From: Cleveland, TN
Really all I am saying is, it's just good preventive maintenance....
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