The automobile hand brake is mostly used to keep the vehicle from accidentally rolling when parked, and if this is the only time it is used then the hand brake shoe linings may well last for the life of the vehicle. On vehicles with manual transmissions, the hand brake may be used to prevent the backwards rolling when starting on an upward grade. On other vehicles, the hand brake may have been used in an emergency situation, or improper adjustment of the hand brake may have caused the shoes to drag as the car was driven. Under these circumstances the hand brake shoes must be replaced, and vehicle owners can save money by doing the job themselves.
Instructions
- 1
Park the automobile and block the front wheels to prevent rolling. Loosen the lug nuts on the rear wheel about half a turn each. Jack up the car and set it securely on an axle stand. Finish removing the rear wheel.
2Undo the two caliper retaining bolts and lift the caliper off of the disk. Use a bungee cord to suspend the caliper from the nearby suspension spring or in some other out of the way location. Take care not to stretch or damage the flexible brake line.
3Undo any retaining bolts or screws that may be holding the disk to the hub, and then pull the disk straight off the hub. If the disk is seized to the hub, firmly tap the center part of the disk a few times with a rubber or plastic mallet to loosen it.
4Remove the brake springs by first gripping one end with pliers and pulling hard to unhook the spring from its mount, and then unhooking the other end. There will be one or two return springs connecting the brake shoes to each other, and perhaps a smaller tensioner spring near the adjuster mechanism if one is present.
5Remove the adjuster mechanism, and any metal struts that are present. These will slide out from in between the brake shoes now that the springs have been removed.
6Release the brake shoes from the hold-down pins. Push down on the pin retainers with a screwdriver, hex key, or pliers, as appropriate, and rotate counterclockwise to release.
7Remove the brake shoes from the backing plate. The front shoe will pull right off. The back shoe is still attached to the parking brake cable. Use pliers to remove the retaining clip from the cable end and then slip the cable end out from its mount on the rear brake shoe. Pull the rear brake shoe from the backing plate. Push the hold-down pins out through the back of the backing plate.
8Clean the backing plate and all removed parts with brake cleaning fluid. Wipe with rags, and use a steel brush to remove heavy deposits. If an adjuster mechanism is present, take it apart, clean the parts thoroughly, and lubricate it with brake grease before putting it back together. Also lubricate the backing plate at the points where the brake shoes contact, and lubricate any pivot or contact points for levers and struts. Be careful not to use too much grease, and do not allow any grease to get on the brake shoe linings or the inside of the drum portion of the brake disk.
9Put the brake back together with the new brake shoes by following the steps in reverse order. Set the length of the self adjuster, or the position of the metal strut if present, so that the brake shoes just barely clear the inner part of the disk when you put it back on to the hub. This may take some trial-and-error adjusting on your part.
10Repeat the process on the other rear brake. Lower the car and test the brake operation before driving.
