How to Change Rear Brakes on a 1999 Ford Zx2

The rear brakes on your Ford Focus ZX2 are drum brakes. This type of brake system uses a wheel cylinder that presses two brake shoes against a rotating brake drum to slow and stop the vehicle. The rear brakes also act as the parking brake for the car. The rear brake shoes won't require replacement as often as the front pads because they are used much more lightly than the front brakes. Replacing the brake shoes is a job you can do in approximately an hour.

Instructions

Park the car on a firm and level surface. Don't set the parking brake. Place wheel chocks in front and behind of one front wheel. Loosen the lug nuts with the lug wrench by turning them counterclockwise.

Place the jack under the frame just in front of one rear wheel and lift the car until the wheel clears the ground. Place a jack stand under the frame just in front of the jack and carefully lower the vehicle onto it. Lower the jack and repeat this process on the other side so both rear wheels are off the ground. Remove the lug nuts and wheels.

Remove the two large retaining screws on the brake drums by turning them counterclockwise with the large Phillips screwdriver. Remove the brake drums and set them aside. If the drums won't come off, thread the screws in the two other holes in the drums to unseat the drums.

Remove the two shoe return springs by grasping one side with the wire cutters and pulling towards the shoe while pivoting the hook out of the opening in the shoes.

Remove the anti-rattle spring in the same manner as the return springs.

Grasp the sides of the retaining clips with the pliers, push down and turn 90 degrees to release the pin. Remove the pin and the clip. Repeat this on the other shoe.

Remove the shoes from the backing plate. Pivot the parking brake actuator out of the opening in the brake shoe.

Spray the whole backing plate with the brake cleaner while scrubbing all of the brake dust, dirt and grime from the backing plate. Liberally coat the backing plate to brake shoe contact pads with white lithium grease.

Hold the rear brake shoe in position on the backing plate and insert the hold down pin through the backing plate and brake shoe. Install the retaining clip over the pin, push down and turn 90 degrees to lock the clip on the pin.

Insert the parking brake actuator into the appropriate opening in the leading (front) brake shoe and place the shoe against the backing plate. Install the retaining pin and clip as in step 9. Grip the edge of the retaining clip with a pair of pliers to make this operation easier on your fingers.

Install the anti-rattle spring on the parking brake actuator and stretch the spring over to the trailing shoe and insert the hooked end into the appropriate opening using the wire cutters.

Insert one hooked end of the two return springs into one of the shoes and stretch the other end to the appropriate opening on the opposite shoe and press the hooked end into the opening. Grip the end of the return springs with the wire cutters.

Slide the brake drum over the lug nuts onto the hub and secure it to the hub by inserting the two retaining screws and turning them clockwise by hand. Tighten these screws to between 89 and 123 inch-pounds with the large Phillips screwdriver.

Insert the brake adjusting tool into the knurled area of the brake actuating lever and adjust the brake until you hear a constant dragging sound as you turn the brake drum.

Repeat steps 4 through 14 above on the other side.

Replace the wheels on the hubs and install the lug nuts by turning them clockwise by hand. Lift one side of the car with the jack and remove the stand. Lower the vehicle until the wheel makes contact with the ground,. Tighten the lug nuts with the lug wrench to 95 foot-pounds. Lower the vehicle to the ground and repeat the process on the other side. Remove the wheel chocks.