Drum Breaks?

[mudman]

Well the garage will be an autoshop tonight as I attempt to change out my rear breaks

1999 dodge 1/2 ton

I have only done drums once or twice before, it's been about 3yrs or so, I went and got that tool for the springs and the rest of the guts but was wondering if anyone has any inside tips?

Thanks

[Gus]

Do not set the parking brake. (will make it virtually impossible to remove drum) Chock wheels instead.

Also, do not press brake pedal for any reason when the drum is off. (parts tend to go flying) been there done that. Doh!

Have a manual handy, sometimes they are priceless.

Those are pretty general things I've been taught or found out the hard way. I have never done Dodge brakes so I can't help with specifics on them.

[SCUMFROG]

Well getting the drum off can be tough, just hit a few times with a hammer, flat on the fornt not the back of the drum, you can crack it. That will break the rust free and make it easyer to come off. Shake the dust out and inspect the drum for wear, if your not sure take it in and have it looked at by a shop. They can turn it there for cheap and you wont have to worry about it.

If you have a digital camera take pictures of the disassemble. That way you can just look at the pictures when your putting it back together.

You well need to turn your adjustment knob to get the right fit of the drum. You my need to turn it in at first to put the drum back on then move the drum, if you don't fell the shoes draging on the drum take it off and turn up the knob a few times. Put drum back on and check for drag, repete this until you feel the drum dragging on the shoes. that's it your done.

Take your time.

[Macgyver55]

The best simple advice I can give you if you are not completely confident in your ability is this..... Pull both drums off but leave one side totally assembled. Don't pull it apart until you are fully confident that you have all the parts on correctly on the side you are doing. This way you can always refer to the original installation if there is a question. Make sure all the springs are in the exact location they came from and that each piece of hardware is in the exact hole it came out of. Don't skimp on drums, either replace or resurface them to avoid problems.

[Surface Tension]

Between wear and rust, your drum will acquire a ridge around the outer diameter. Getting the shoes past that ridge can be impossible. To get the drums off you'll probably have to back off the self adjusters. To find them look from the inside, sometimes above the brake cylinder. It'll be and oblong hole with a rubber plug in it. They make a break tool to adjust them but a wide flat screw driver will work.

[mudman]

Thanks guys I forgot to add that I am replacing the entire kit & kabootle! drums and shoes. so from what I gather it shouldn't be too difficult and my memory should recharge enough to GIT R DONE!!!