I am doing my back brakes this weekend, my Dakota has 135,000 miles on it and still has the original brake shoes and drums on it. The parking brake won't hold it firm anymore. I could adjust it but I figure it's about time to out new brakes on the rear.

I have done plenty of disc brake pads and rotors, but have never done a set of brake shoes with all the springs and hardware. Exactly how hard is it? The Haynes book makes it look pretty easy. I have a lot of patience, I have the brake spring and retainer pin nut removal tools and an adjuster spoon. I know I can get it done and do it correctly, but am just wondering how difficult it might be.

I can get new shoes and a hardware kit for about $25.00 and there is a shop down the street from my house that will turn the drums for $35.00. Just for the info, I called a local tire place that said they charge $120.00 and that is if the drums have enough surface left to be turned, and I doubt they use new hardware. If it needs new drums the tire shop charges $90.00 apiece.

Any pointers or suggestions on what to watch out for are much appreciated.

Thanks.

Jimmy

 

Just follow the directions in the Haynes manual and u will be fin especially with the right tools I did mine with pliers and it was a pia cause the springs r hard to get a hold of I recommend taking off both drums and looking at the other side as u work on one of em cause its easier to look at the real thing then at the pictures.
Oh and get it all back together before pressing on the brakes or u will blow the brake cyclinders out my buddy did that and it blew brake fluid everywhere and getting it back together sucked.

 

Take pics of everything!!! Before you pull it apart

 

Thanks for the info. I think it will go OK, I have the time and patience for the job. Did you guys have to get the drums resurfaced? I know the rear brakes only do about 25% of the work to slow and stop the truck so I just wonder if the drums don't wear down at a much slower rate than the front rotors do.

When I did my front brakes back in January I put in all new rotors, new pads and calipers too. I had a BG power flush done on the brake fluid a few months ago. I have adjusted the rears a few times and I pull the drums and clean and inspect the rear brakes when I rotate my tires. But I have yet to do a set of brake shoes.

Thanks for the info.

Jimmy

 

Drums are pretty easy take pics and you will be fine.

 

Now that you know to do one at a time, good luck.

Report back when you are done so that we can get off the edges of our seats lol