Drum Brake Pain

[mowflow 67]

Rant alert.

 

I've read a few comments on here stating that drum brakes are simpler and more reliable than discs. I can't comment on the second bit but how can anyone possibly say these things are simple? Getting the drum off is a pain in the hoop, then after several hours going through the blue word A-Z when you get it off there are somewhere between 1 and 1 million immovable springs just waiting to pinch any skin that you dare to put near them. On top of that there are all the fossilised pins, side/direction dependent adjusters and screws.

 

Am I missing something? They just seem so much more complicated and awkward to work on than a disc set up.

[Tom Fenton 1,541]

I can't remember seeing anyone say drums are simpler. What I have seen and would support is that drums give a far better handbrake.

However discs are better in terms of less maintenance needed.

[mowflow 67]

I must have dreamt it. I hate them. Got to change the shoes on my wifes Picasso at the weekend and am contemplating just trading it in for another car instead.

[PAGOS 15 4 Cars]

Don't panic . If you have the drum off ,that's one less obstical in your way. study the shoes and springs set-up before removal . lay the new shoes out on the bench/floor and as you remove the springs fit them to your new ones,a practise run . take a look at a diagram in the workshop manual or the web. clean all moving parts and apply a little copper lube.check the the cylinder seals. clean the back plates. use brake & clutch cleaner. CAUTION - THE DUST IS HAZARDOUS. PROTECT YOUR EYES ,NOSE AND MOUTH ! Ensure the auto adjuster bar is free apply a wee drop of lube.you don't want to be going back to fix something that ,with a wee bit of attention now can be avoided down the line . a certain amount of leverage will be needed to remove and fit the shoes. don't panic , ! have all your tools at hand,you wont need so many.take your time . don't forget to breathe ! good luck. pago.

[Slo 283 1 Cars]

Best tip ever for drum brakes use your phone camera up close so you can see how everything is before you take it off.

[welshpug 1,656]

Always grind the lip off, its usually nothing more than rust and brake dust caked up, if you ever need to take them apart again it'll be a lot easier.

 

That counts for re-assembly as much as removal too, so you dont need to rely as heavily on the self adjusting mechanism to do its work, just wind the adjuster manually as far as you can before fitting the drum.

 

Also dont forget to back off the cable adjuster till the cables are slack before dissasembly, and adjust the cable last after liberal use of the foot brake to settle the shoes and adjusters.

Edited February 14, 2014 by welshpug

[sickomotorsport 4 2 Cars]

They aren't too bad once you have done a few sets. A good tip is to do one side at a time so if you forget where a spring goes you can look at the side that's still assembled. Also order a fitting kit which contains new springs incase you lose or damage any of the old ones.

[Mattr5uk 20 5 Cars]

The best way I've found to change them is by de-adjusting the brake shoes fully removing the retaining pins and sliding them over the wheel cylinder and then separating them from the handbrake cable. Once you've got them off in one if everything doesn't decide to ping off everywhere you can pull the shoes by hand to release the springs and refit the same way once swapped over. There's nothing worse trying to hold the springs with pencil nose pliers or mole grips. Refitting the handbrake cable back into the shoes tends to be the biggest pain that's where I find the pencil nosed mole grips to hold the handbrake cable come in handy. And I hate to add to your fustrations but if recommend changing the wheel cylinders while your there or you could end up doing the whole job over if one leaks a few months down the line.

Edited February 15, 2014 by Mattr5uk

[Daviewonder 533 3 Cars]

You can buy a shoe kit that comes with the cylinders, springs and adjusters already built up. It's very good value for money and saves loads of swearing.

[mowflow 67]

Wow! Lots of good advice here. I decided my weekend was better spent lying around, pretending to look after the kids, watching cartoons and drinking. I've arranged to pay a friend to do the job for me doing the week

 

I'll use this thread for advice when I finally get round to doing the ones on the 205......... Unless I find some disc trailing arms at a decent (read as cheap) price.