How to Put Chevrolet Corsica Drum Brakes Together

The Chevrolet Corsica was a mid-sized sedan manufactured by GM between 1987 and 1996. It was replaced by the reintroduction of the Chevy Malibu. The Corsica was directly related to the Chevrolet Beretta, using the same L-shaped body style and available in a 2.2-liter, four-cylinder engine or a 3.1-liter, six-cylinder engine. The Corsica featured front disc brakes and rear drum brakes.

Instructions

Place the Corsica on a lift or use a floor jack to place the rear end of the car on jack stands to remove the wheels, drums and brake shoe assembly.

Spray brake clean spray directly on the backing plate to wash off of the built-up brake dust. Allow the backing plate to dry.

Use the emery cloth to recondition the surface of the shoe contact points on the backing plate and then apply a light coat of anti-seize lubricant compound to the contact points.

Apply a light coat of anti-seize compound to the fulcrum end of the parking brake cable before installing the lever on the secondary shoe (facing the rear of the Corsica) and then securing in place by crimping the end of the C-clip with a pair of needle-nose pliers.

Connect the primary and secondary shoes together by installing the adjuster screw and spring. Do not position the spring coils over the star wheel. Use the new springs from the drum hardware kit, and be sure to replace the appropriate spring to the appropriate shoe.

Spread the shoes assembly apart enough to spread it over the rear wheel hub. Align the assembly in place with the horns at the top of each shoe resting on the left and right bores of the wheel cylinder. Align the star wheel adjuster to the adjustment porthole on the backing plate.

Spread the shoes again enough to install the parking brake strut and spring. Reposition and realign the shoes again.

Install the actuating pivot, the lever and the new return spring (supplied in the drum hardware kit). Place the actuating link the shoe retainer. Lift up slightly on the lever, and then hook the link into the lever.

Place the new hold-down pins (supplied in the hardware kit) through the holes in the backing plate and then through the retaining holes of the shoes. Use the brake spring tool to compress the hold-down springs onto the hold-down pins and twist the tool to lock the spring cups in place.

Install the remaining return spring using the needle-nose pliers. Realign the shoes if they have shifted.

Clean the drum off with brake clean spray and then place it over the shoe assembly.

Remove the adjuster porthole plug (if applicable) and then place a screwdriver into the porthole to locate the adjuster lever. Press the lever away from the star wheel with the screwdriver and use the adjuster spoon to turn the star wheel in order to extend the shoes outward to contact the inside diameter of the drum. Check the shoe adjustment every five to six turns of the star wheel. When the drum cannot rotate on its axis for a complete revolution, the shoes are correctly adjusted to the drums.

Repeat Steps 2 through 12 for the other side. Replace the wheels and tighten the lug nuts.