How to Replace Drum Brakes Taking care of your own car can be a great way to save time and money throughout the year. Some jobs are difficult and require the help of a skilled mechanic but other parts of car maintenance can be taken care of with only the help of the right tools and a good set of instructions. One great way that you can save yourself a trip to the mechanic is to replace your own drum brakes. Now, this may seem like a daunting task, but if you follow these instructions and have the right equipment, you will be able to get it done without too much trouble, and make a great impression on anyone you tell!
Step 1 The first thing you need to do as you prepare to replace your drum brakes is to get a good asbestos respirator. This will protect you from the dangerous asbestos particles you will encounter as you work on replacing your breaks.
Step 2 The next thing you need to do is remover your hubcaps and loosen the nuts on your tires. You also need to support your car with a jack. Remember that it is absolutely imperative that you never work on a car with a jack without another person around.
Step 3 Next you should spray your wheel with penetrating oil, and grab the brake drum by the edges and wiggle it out. This should get the drum brake off, and you will be ready for the next step. If your drum brake is held in by screws, you will need to remove them first.
Step 4 Now you can inspect your drum brake to see if it needs to be replaced. Remember to take a picture of the drum brake before taking it apart so you can make sure to put everything back exactly where it belongs.
Step 5 Now, spray the entire drum brake and the entire mechanism with a brake cleaner, being careful to keep your asbestos respirator on so you do not breathe in the harmful chemicals.
Step 6 The next thing to do is to compare your new brake shoes with the old set to make sure that they are exactly the same, and that all of the holes line up correctly. You must now take apart the brake, making
sure to examine each part and keep it carefully, if you think it will be helpful you can take pictures along the way so you will have a reference when you put it back together. You now need to build the new brake using your pictures as reference, and when you finish it should look exactly as it did in your initial photograph. You can now reinstall your tire and remove the jack. When you have completed this process, you are finished with the production of your drum brake. Remember to keep your car in great repair and find excellent car insurance in Long Beach. If you do this, you will be able to keep your car for a long time, and be certain that you are covered in all situations. Photo Credit: Jon Matthies, Daniel Go