Drum Brake Repairs

Drum Brake Repairs

Although drum brakes are an older style of braking system, they're still found on millions of modern cars - often as part of a system that includes disc brakes on the vehicle's front axle and drum brakes on the rear.

As an essential part of keeping you safe on the road, your brakes need to be in perfect working condition at all times and problems should never be ignored.

Here, we'll walk you through how drum brakes work, what a drum brake replacement involves, how often you can expect to replace the parts needed, and how to work out if you have drum brakes on your vehicle - if you're not 100% certain.

We'll also explain exactly how to make sure you get the best deal from brake repair workshops near you.

How much does it cost to replace drum brakes?

The average price to replace drum brakes is between $250-$400 - although the brakes on some vehicles can be more.

It's rare for a mechanic to replace just the drum brakes when they're servicing or repairing the rear brakes on your vehicle. Instead, they will usually replace the brake drum shoes and brake cylinders at the same time.

If you'd like to find the very best price for drum brake servicing and repairs in your area, we can help.

What is a drum brake?

A drum brake is a braking system used to help bring your car to a halt. Usually, drum brakes are found on older vehicles or lower performance vehicles.

The main components of a drum brake assembly are:

• Brake drum (sometimes misspelled as 'break drum')
• Brake wheel cylinder
• Brake shoes
• Return springs
• Backing plate

The drum itself is connected to either the rear axle or a wheel hub - then the wheel is bolted onto the drum.

How does a drum brake work?

The wheel cylinders that live inside the drum house pistons - and when you push the brake pedal, hydraulic pressure is transferred from the brake master cylinder and through the brake fluid that lives in brake pipes running the length of the car. In turn, this causes pistons inside the rear drum brakes to be forced outwards. This then pushes each internal brake shoe outwards, against the inside surface of the brake drum.

The friction between the brake shoes and the inside of the drum slows the turning of the drum. Since this is connected to the wheel - the wheel is also slowed and reduces the speed of the car.

When you take your foot off the brake pedal, the wheel cylinder pistons retract and the return springs pull the brake shoes inward, removing any friction from the drum and allowing the wheel to move freely again.

The backing plate that sits behind the braking mechanism stops debris and excess water getting into the system - but it also traps the brake dust that's created when the brake shoes rub against the brake drum. As a result, there's often a lot of build up of dust and corrosion inside the brake drum - which means many of these internal braking components are usually replaced when it's time for new brake shoes.

Is the parking brake connected to the drum brakes?

Although electronic parking brakes are becoming more popular on modern vehicles, most cars still have a cable operated parking brake lever - designed to stop the car rolling when you bring it to a halt.

The parking brake is connected to both rear wheel cylinders within the drums. When you pull it, it makes the rear brake shoes expand and push against the drum, so the car cannot be moved.

How can you tell if you have drum brakes or disc brakes?

If you're reading this and you're just not sure whether you have drum brakes or disc brakes on your car, don't panic - you're not alone!

When you compare drum brakes and disc brakes the differences are usually fairly obvious when you know what you're looking for:

In this picture, you can see a brake drum. Since almost all of the mechanism is inside of the drum, the system looks simple and is often either bare metal or painted black. Drum brakes are sometimes difficult to see behind the wheel as they are often small.

Since drum brakes are often bare metal, they can corrode on the outside. Don't be surprised if they look a little rusty - especially on older vehicles.

This is a disc brake system. You'll notice the disc is almost always a bright silver colour - this is where it's constantly rubbed by the disc pads. There is part of the disc covered by the 'brake caliper' - red in this picture but can be any colour. Within this caliper there's a hydraulic system that presses brake pads against the disc to slow the car.

Still not sure whether you have drum brakes?

Don't worry, if you're not sure whether your car has drum brakes or not, a mechanic will be able to let you know.

When you request prices through Auto Hero, you'll be able to speak directly to the workshops we connect you with - with zero obligation. Most mechanics will be able to tell you about the braking system on your car from just the make and model - but if they're not sure, a quick online manufacturer check will give them all the info they need to give you an accurate quote.

Why do some vehicles have both discs and drums?

Many vehicles - from small city cars right up to large vans and pickups - have a combination of disc brakes and drum brakes. Discs at the front, drums at the back.

The main reason for this is braking performance - but manufacturing and repair cost plays a part too.

Performance

The front brakes do most of the work when it comes to slowing or stopping your car. In fact, depending on the specific vehicle, between 60-80% of the braking work is done by the front brakes.

Because of this, the front brakes need to be the most effective. The way the disc systems are made and operate mean they do a better job of dispersing the heat that builds up in the system as you brake. Discs are also better in wet weather: water can affect drum brakes but it's easily dispersed by discs.

Both of these things mean braking power is more consistently powerful, and less like to 'fade' - i.e. reduce in effectiveness as heat or rainwater builds up.

Costs

Drum brakes are less costly to manufacture than disc brakes - and this reduction in cost is reflected in the retail price of the vehicle.

As well as being cheaper to install on new vehicles, drum brakes are also cheaper to maintain and repair. As such, it makes sense to install them on the rear of the car - where performance isn't as crucial.

How can you tell if you have drum brake problems?

Like most parts of a car, there's no single tell-tale problem or symptom that will let you know when your brake drums need the attention of mechanic.

Instead, there are a handful of things that could potentially alert you to any issue.

Symptoms to be aware of are:

• Brakes becoming unresponsive when you press the brake pedal
• A brake pedal that pushes down further than usual under your foot
• A grinding or scraping noise coming from the rear wheels when you brake
• A shuddering feeling - either through the pedal or through the car - when you brake

What does replacing drum brakes involve?

To replace drum brakes or any of the internal components, a mechanic will usually carry out the following steps:

Step 1

The technician will loosen the lug nuts and release the parking brake - then elevate the car on a lift before removing the rear wheels

Step 2

At this stage, a mechanic will usually put on appropriate personal protective gloves, safety glasses, and mask - as brake dust can be harmful if it's inhaled or contacts your skin

Step 3

With the wheel removed, the drum brakes can be accessed. Some drums have securing screws - but the drum usually comes away from the hub with some backward and forward movement and pressure. If it doesn't come away fairly easily, the brake adjuster may need to be backed off with a brake adjuster tool until it does

Step 4

With the workings of the brake exposed, brake cleaner can be used to remove the brake dust and any build-up of corrosion - allowing for a detailed examination of the brake components and any evidence of brake fluid leaks. It's important to catch any run-off of brake cleaner as it's corrosive and should be disposed of carefully

Step 5

The mechanic will inspect the parts carefully - as well as looking for evidence that the brake shoes are worn. Careful attention will be given to the inside of the brake drums - looking for cracking, scoring, or any grooves

Step 6

If there's evidence of any leaking brake fluid, this usually suggests that the brake cylinders should be replaced

Step 7

The brake drum assembly will be further disassembled, with the mechanic removing the return springs to take the tension off the shoes. Then, any additional pins and washers that are retaining the shoes will be removed

Step 8

At this stage, any parts that are worn or damaged will be replaced - then the assembly will be carefully put back together

Step 9

A stationary test and a test drive will be carried out to make sure the braking system is working as intended

Looking for a workshop to replace brake drums or brake shoes?

If you think there's something wrong with your drum brakes - or you're aware that they have not been inspected for a long time - it's absolutely essential that you have them looked at by a qualified professional before you use the vehicle again.

The good news is, Auto Hero will save you the time and effort of finding the best mechanics iand calling around for quotes.

Simply let us know that you're looking for a drum brake specialist near you - and we'll put you in touch with the best mechanics in your area. What's more - we're the most reviewed mechanical work comparison site in Australia - so you'll be able to choose a mechanic, safe in the knowledge that they've received real reviews from customers in your area.

There's no obligation when you receive a quote - and we promise that the price you're quoted is the price you pay - no haggling or inflated prices when you get your bill.