CoupedUpSubie
FWD-FTW
Due to recent finding that some people aren't really sure how to repair their drum brakes I figured I would do a write up on the job. In reality once you have seen how it is done once it isn't that bad. This thread applies to drum brakes on subaru's with the ej engine and select other makes(such as gen 3 vw's). If you have a different make then this may not apply.
General tools:
Sockets
Wrenches
Hammer
Thread chasers
Paper towels
The tools specific to the job:
Brake spoon
Flare nut wrench
Diagonal cutters
Brake cleaner
Brake fluid
Dial Calipers
Techniques without the tools made for the job:
Brake spoon = bent flathead screwdriver (look at the one in the video you showed us... has quite a bend on it)
Flare nut wrench = vise grips (may ruin the nut so be careful)
Make sure the car is stable.
Removing the drum:
Remove the wheel
Find the slot on the backing plate and insert brake spoon
There is the adjusting wheel that needs to be backed off(screwed in to shorten it) to allow the drum to slide off
Once there is no contact between the shoes and the drum use the hammer to give the drum a good whack between each stud(this helps with freeing it from the hub)
Use a thread chaser to clean the two threaded holes that go through the drum
Use 2 bolts that are long enough to press the drum off(evenly tighten them) if they don't move you have a problem
Removing shoes:
Turn the adjuster as far in as possible to release as much tension on the springs as possible
Use diagonal cutters to grip the outside spring and pull it off(you won't cut it, spring steel is hard to cut)
Remove inner spring
Remove the pins in the middle of the shoes by spinning the hat 90 degrees
The shoes will fall off if you aren't holding them so if you are reusing them be careful to not drop them
Removing wheel cylinder:
There are 3 connections in the wheel cylinder(1 line and 2 mounting bolts)
All 3 should be soaked with your lubricator/rust treatment fluid of your choice
Break the line free first but do not remove it
Remove the 2 mounting bolts
Clean all mating surfaces so the sit against each other properly and there is less room for movement.
Getting the new wheel cylinder ready:
Open the bleeder screw
Pour brake fluid into the hole for the brake line and cycle the pistons carefully to get fluid moving inside so bleeding the brakes isn't as hard
Close bleeder screw
Installing new wheel cylinder:
Remove the old cylinder and immediately replace with new one to reduce amount of air you get in the system
Mount the cylinder
Tighten everything down
If using new shoes use old shoes as a guide as to where the pin for the hardware goes
Place shoes using the two spring fasteners
Hook bottom spring onto the shoes
Put ebrake and adjuster pieces back in their place
Place top inner spring in its correct placement
Place outer spring in its place
Measure the inside diameter of the drum where it isn't in contact with the shoes
Adjust the shoes out until they are just under the diameter of the drum
Make sure the shoes are centered so they track properly
Slide drum back on
Using brake spoon adjust the brakes out so they almost touch the drum
Bleeding brakes:
REASSEMBLE EVERYTHING EXCEPT PUTTING THE WHEEL ON
How to bleed brakes:
make sure all bleeders are closed
fill brake fluid resavoir to the full line
have the person in the car depress the pedal slowly and hold at bottom
open the bleeder on chosen wheel then close when flow stops(air or fluid, if air open for a second then close) close bleeder
the person in the car can let pressure off the pedal now
repeat until you get mostly fluid (remember to top off the brake fluid... as in check after 3 or 4 of these cycles)
once you have fluid the pedal can be pumped
3 or 4 slow pumps then hold as before
open bleeder and close when flow stops
repeat
your brakes are bled when no air is present in the fluid coming out of the line and the pedal feels stiff (like your parents vehicles should be)
Once your brakes are bled put your wheel back on. I recommend checking to make sure the lug nuts are tight after driving for a while due to seperating the drum from the hub.
REMEMBER:
Do one side of internals at a time so you can compare setup and make sure you have it right.
If you need new brake lines take the old one to the shop so they can match the nuts and flare.
General tools:
Sockets
Wrenches
Hammer
Thread chasers
Paper towels
The tools specific to the job:
Brake spoon
Flare nut wrench
Diagonal cutters
Brake cleaner
Brake fluid
Dial Calipers
Techniques without the tools made for the job:
Brake spoon = bent flathead screwdriver (look at the one in the video you showed us... has quite a bend on it)
Flare nut wrench = vise grips (may ruin the nut so be careful)
Make sure the car is stable.
Removing the drum:
Remove the wheel
Find the slot on the backing plate and insert brake spoon
There is the adjusting wheel that needs to be backed off(screwed in to shorten it) to allow the drum to slide off
Once there is no contact between the shoes and the drum use the hammer to give the drum a good whack between each stud(this helps with freeing it from the hub)
Use a thread chaser to clean the two threaded holes that go through the drum
Use 2 bolts that are long enough to press the drum off(evenly tighten them) if they don't move you have a problem
Removing shoes:
Turn the adjuster as far in as possible to release as much tension on the springs as possible
Use diagonal cutters to grip the outside spring and pull it off(you won't cut it, spring steel is hard to cut)
Remove inner spring
Remove the pins in the middle of the shoes by spinning the hat 90 degrees
The shoes will fall off if you aren't holding them so if you are reusing them be careful to not drop them
Removing wheel cylinder:
There are 3 connections in the wheel cylinder(1 line and 2 mounting bolts)
All 3 should be soaked with your lubricator/rust treatment fluid of your choice
Break the line free first but do not remove it
Remove the 2 mounting bolts
Clean all mating surfaces so the sit against each other properly and there is less room for movement.
Getting the new wheel cylinder ready:
Open the bleeder screw
Pour brake fluid into the hole for the brake line and cycle the pistons carefully to get fluid moving inside so bleeding the brakes isn't as hard
Close bleeder screw
Installing new wheel cylinder:
Remove the old cylinder and immediately replace with new one to reduce amount of air you get in the system
Mount the cylinder
Tighten everything down
If using new shoes use old shoes as a guide as to where the pin for the hardware goes
Place shoes using the two spring fasteners
Hook bottom spring onto the shoes
Put ebrake and adjuster pieces back in their place
Place top inner spring in its correct placement
Place outer spring in its place
Measure the inside diameter of the drum where it isn't in contact with the shoes
Adjust the shoes out until they are just under the diameter of the drum
Make sure the shoes are centered so they track properly
Slide drum back on
Using brake spoon adjust the brakes out so they almost touch the drum
Bleeding brakes:
REASSEMBLE EVERYTHING EXCEPT PUTTING THE WHEEL ON
How to bleed brakes:
make sure all bleeders are closed
fill brake fluid resavoir to the full line
have the person in the car depress the pedal slowly and hold at bottom
open the bleeder on chosen wheel then close when flow stops(air or fluid, if air open for a second then close) close bleeder
the person in the car can let pressure off the pedal now
repeat until you get mostly fluid (remember to top off the brake fluid... as in check after 3 or 4 of these cycles)
once you have fluid the pedal can be pumped
3 or 4 slow pumps then hold as before
open bleeder and close when flow stops
repeat
your brakes are bled when no air is present in the fluid coming out of the line and the pedal feels stiff (like your parents vehicles should be)
Once your brakes are bled put your wheel back on. I recommend checking to make sure the lug nuts are tight after driving for a while due to seperating the drum from the hub.
REMEMBER:
Do one side of internals at a time so you can compare setup and make sure you have it right.
If you need new brake lines take the old one to the shop so they can match the nuts and flare.
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