The Dodge Ram pickup left the factory with either drum or disc brakes in the rear. If you have the drum brakes, you need to remove them from the truck to access the brake shoes, springs and wheel cylinders. The drums do not wear as fast as rotors on a disc system but they can develop grooves, gouges and score marks over time. Resurfacing or replacing the drums is necessary in these situations. New drums are available at most auto-parts stores.
Instructions
- 1
Loosen the lug nuts on the rear wheels of your Dodge with a lug wrench. Do not remove them from the wheel studs yet.
2Raise the rear of your Dodge with a jack and support it on a set of jack stands. Position the jack stands under the rear axle tubes and lower the jack until the truck is sitting securely on the stands.
3Remove the lug nuts from the wheel studs, then remove the wheels from the rear of the truck. Set the lug nuts aside in a safe spot and place the wheels out of the way for now.
4Locate the adjuster hole in the backing plate from the rear of the brakes. Insert a small, thin screwdriver into the hole and wedge it between the adjusting lever and the star wheel just inside the hole. Pry the star wheel down with a brake spoon to loosen the brake shoes.
5Move to the front side of the brakes, grasp the brake drum on both edges with your hands and pull it straight off the shoes and wheel studs. Repeat the process on the opposite side of the truck to remove the second brake drum.
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