How to Replace Brake Shoes on a Chrysler Town & Country

Like most vehicles, the brake shoes on a Chrysler Town & Country work primarily with the parking brake, so they may not need changing as often as brake pads. If the shoes do need to be replaced, you need to change the shoes on both rear wheels. This can be a difficult process, as the brake drum assembly uses multiple springs and clips with the brake shoes.

Instructions

Raise the rear end of the van and support it on jack stands, then remove the wheels. Loosening the wheel lug nuts before raising the van will help.

Slip the brake drum off. If it is stuck, turn the gear on the adjuster port in the brake's backing plate with a screwdriver to retract the brake shoes.

Clean off the whole brake assembly with brake cleaner spray, placing a pan or other appropriate container below to catch the dripping fluid.

Detach the front brake shoe hold-down spring by pressing the retainer and turning it 90 degrees. This works better with a special auto parts store tool designed for this task.

Disconnect the upper return spring and the adjustment lever spring from the brake shoe using needle-nose pliers, then remove the upper spring, along with the tension clip and automatic adjuster, and the adjustment lever and spring.

Disconnect the two return springs located at the bottom of the shoes and remove the front brake shoe.

Remove the actuating strut from the lower half of the brake assembly, remove the rear shoe hold-down spring and pin with the same tool as the front, and remove the rear shoe with the parking brake actuating lever.

Clean and lubricate the threads on the automatic adjuster screw. Use a high temperature grease.

Detach the parking brake actuator plate from the old front brake shoe and install it on the replacement, making sure you properly seat the retaining clips.

Lubricate the contact surfaces of the brake assembly's backing plate with the high-temperature grease.

Connect the parking brake actuating lever to the brake cable and install the rear shoe to the backing plate, applying the hold-down pin and spring.

Reconnect the parking brake actuating strut, automatic adjuster, tension clip and upper return spring.

Install the new front brake shoe and mount it in place with its hold-down pin and spring. Attach the upper return spring, automatic adjustment lever, actuating spring and lower return springs with the pliers.

Connect the brake drum back onto the hub flange.

Adjust the brake shoes by inserting a screwdriver into the adjuster port--remove the rubber plug--and turning the adjuster gear. Adjust it until the shoes drag against a turning brake drum and then turn it the other way so the shoes just avoid dragging.

Reconnect the wheels and lower the car after changing the brakes on both sides.