The front and rear brakes on a car take a lot of abuse over time. On most older vehicles, the front brakes will be discs, while the rear ones will be drums. The drum brakes on a car are an essential part of having maximum braking power. Over time, the drums and shoes on the rear part of a vehicle will have to do a lot of work and may begin to show some signs of wear. When the brake pedal on your car is pushed, the brake shoes on the rear of the car will press against the brake drums to bring the vehicle to a stop. The drums are only used when the brakes of a car are applied.

WHAT IS BRAKE DRUM RESURFACING?

The brake drums and shoes are vital components of a vehicle’s braking system. Brake drums and shoes are more commonly found on older vehicles which don’t use a disc brake system to slow the car down. The brake drums serve as the brake disc and the brake shoes serve as the brake pads. The brake drum looks like a bowl-shaped component and it is attached to each wheel. When the driver steps on the brake pedal, the brake shoe pushes against the brake drum to cause the friction that slows the spinning wheel down.

HOW IS BRAKE DRUM RESURFACING DONE?

Applicable for Set of 2 Brake Drums

1. Loosen the lug nuts of the vehicle
2. Secure the vehicle on jack stands
3. Remove the wheel and brake drum
4. Clean the drum brake assembly
5. Inspect the brakes
6. Disassemble the brake drum assembly
7. Remove the brake drum shoes
8. Look for any leaks
9. Remove the parking brake cable retainer clip
10. Install the brake shoes, drums and replace the wheel
11. Test your brakes

RECOMMENDATIONS

If you hear a screeching noise from brakes, the mechanic may recommend resurfacing of the drums.

SYMPTOMS THAT INDICATE YOU NEED A BRAKE DRUM REPLACEMENT

• Weak Brakes
• Brake Pedal Vibrations
• Brake Noises
• Parking Brake is Loose

All things considered, servicing your drum brakes is a relatively straightforward affair, and is not much more complicated to perform than most brake services.