I just found out that my '89 F-150 Lariat needs some MAJOR rear brake work.

Appearently the drums are cracked, shoes are so thin you can read through them and to boot its all seized.

So I am just starting getting into doing my own repairs (horn, heater core, electrical) Is a drum and pad replacement going to be something I shoudl figure on doing.

So far everything has been going well or is this something I shoudl pass off to a professional.

I am kind of inclined to try it myself. How long per side shoudl I expect to take. Any advice?

 

Do it yourself. Just remember to do one side at a time so you can use the other side as a reference in case you start getting confused. Providing you don't have any major set backs, you should be able to do it all in an afternoon. A service manual for your truck would be an added benifit. You could pick one up at the same parts store that you get your parts from.

 

I would suggest doing it yourself. Brake jobs seem to be one of those repairs that shops charge a lot more than it's worth (for the time involved). It's not that difficult. And you will learn a lot from it.

If its your first time doing drum brakes I would suggest the following. Get both rear wheel on jacks and remove the drums from both sides. Do one side at a time and use the other side as a reference for how the brakes go back together in case you get confused on the assembly. It should not take more than an afternoon.

Its typical for the drums to be difficult to remove, especially if the drums are cracked. If you look in a repair manual (I like Haynes) you'll see that there is a brake shoe adjuster on the back side of the backing plate. It's inside a rectangular hole that you can insert an adjusting tool (or screwdriver) to remove tension on the pads, then the drum should wiggle off, if not you can motivate the drum with some very light taps using a rubber mallet.

One the drums are off, just make sure you take a really good look at how all of the springs and various parts fit/work--taking a photo if you have a digital camera is not a bad idea if it looks confusing. If you want to do a nice job, they sell brake kits that have new springs, retaining clips, etc. It's cheap and for the money it's worth replacing all of the hardware along with the shoes and drums because the springs get stretched over time and the retainers fatigue. It's also a good idea to make sure the brake cylinder is not leaking, those are fairly inexpensive too if you need them. You'll see fluid or grime on the baking plate.

If you get stuck look at the other side and just take your time thinking about how everything comes apart and how it all works. Clean everything with brake solvent (not compressed air if you value your lungs). Anyway, the manuals have photos of each step, but if you do it nice and slow and pay attention, it's pretty straightforward. And when you are done don't forget to adjust the shoes (it's also covered in the manual).

Have fun with it

Jesse