Thoughts on what the benefits of removing the rear drums are. The rear brakes on my truck didn't work when I got it. To fix them it would be too much money for me so what would be the cons and pros or removing the rotational weight of the drum. I'm guessing a slight increase in acceleration because your moving less weight. Thoughts?

 

And replacing them with discs? Initial costs and parts store confusion would be the only things I can think of.

Or do you mean just taking the drums off of the truck entirely, and stripping of the rear brakes? Please don't do that. I had to drive with no back brakes for about a week or so two winters ago when I lost a brake line, and couldn't get an appointment as soon as I liked. It stopped, but it was never a real confident stop.

If there is anything you NEED to fix when its broken, its your brakes. Whatever you do, don't take the drum off and drive it like that, because if you are involved in an accident like that, you will be legal cannon fodder.

Rear wheel cylinders are $5. Shoes are $15. A hardware kit is $5. Brake lines or hoses shouldn't be too much for a short splice.

 

i would have to agree. as long as you don't need new drums it should cost you almost nothing to fix the rear drum brakes. if you make your own brake lines you can just about replace every single brake line for about $20.

 

What you are suggesting is totally irresponsible. You must remember that if you remove the rear brakes and anything happens to the front brakes you are riding in a 2 ton coffin and the chance of killing someone else is huge. This is why they divide the braking system into two separate systems so that one is a backup in the event of a failure.

 

The guy before me drove it for two years with no rear brakes. I have allready driven it one winter with no rear brakes. I didnt find it that difficult even on the worse days.

 

have you actually inspected the rear drums to see if they are not working or are you taking the word of the previous owner. i am betting those rear brakes are doing more than you think even if can't feel them.

 

Yes i know they dont work. Behind the rusted drum that is beat up on the inside all the brake shoes are falling apart and nearly or completely gone. To test the brakes I raised the rear end and put the truck in gear and let the tire spin. I could not get the tires to stop spinning with the brakes.

 

well its up to you but you have to think. what is your life worth? less than $100 in parts could possibly save your life.

 

dairy: I hope you don't live anywhere near me or my family and friends. I don't care if people drive a vehicle with cosmetic flaws or minor things wrong that waste gas or pollute unnecessarily but to drive around with major brake or major steering problems, I can't abide by. How will you feel if the front brakes fail and you kill a bunch of kids standing around their bus stop because you have no control over your vehicle? Sorry if this angers you but you asked for thoughts and my thought is that what you are doing is totally wrong and irresponsible. Fix it or park it for the safety of all.

 

Haha funny you mention steering problems. But those I plan on fixing. I am always prepared for a failure since I did have to drive it home once without brakes. It is usually driven in a rural area only so if worst comes to worst the ditch looks pretty nice. But thanks for ur opinion. Who knows maybe I will fix them sometime.