Changed brake shoes

[Sniper82]

Changed back brake shoes on one side lastnight on a 96 Geo Prizm and once I got them on and inspected things I took the car for a short slow drive. The brakes work but the pedal has alot more travel to it before the brakes catch. Only thing I did that I think could have caused this is a hit the pedal some before putting the drum back on to make sure the shoes was operating fine. Could this have caused air in the system?

I adjusted the brake shoes before putting everything back together. Gonna bleed that side tonight and see if it fixes the problem.

 

[Pacfanweb]

You can't get air in the system by just installing shoes. Probably need to be adjusted. The drum should just barely slide on over the shoes....I prefer to have to force it a little.

 

[boomerang]

Drive backwards and repeatedly come to a complete and full stop. You don't need to go fast. This will adjust the shoes out to their optimal distance to the drums.

The self-adjusters work when stopping in reverse.

 

[996GT2]

Pull your hand brake a few times. A lot of modern cars with rear drums have the drum shoe adjuster linked to the parking brake, and when the lever movement exceeds a certain amount, the adjuster moves the drum shoes closer to the drum.

 

[Sniper82]

Originally posted by: boomerang
Drive backwards and repeatedly come to a complete and full stop. You don't need to go fast. This will adjust the shoes out to their optimal distance to the drums.

The self-adjusters work when stopping in reverse.

Tried that with no luck but the brakes seemed to work better in reverse for some reason. I'll try the hand brake.

Curious would me pushing on the pedal while the drum is off cause this issue?

 

[BUTCH1]

Possible wheel cylinder going bad?? Is the fluid remaining steady in the master
cylinder?

 

[Sniper82]

Originally posted by: BUTCH1
Possible wheel cylinder going bad?? Is the fluid remaining steady in the master
cylinder?

Just put a new cylinder on it few weeks ago. Yeah fluid is staying the same. Me hitting the brakes with the drum off must have done something because after bleeding that line the brakes now stop good and have plenty of clearance from the floor. When I change the other side in a couple days I need to not do that I suppose.

 

[mrblotto]

Man, just in time. I'm fixin to change the rear shoes on my '97 Celica tomorrow (hopefully early enough so it isn't hot as blue blazes out there!)


I've never done this before,but have done minor maintenance a lot (plugs,wires,belts,hoses,filters,etc...). I think if I just take my time and not rush things I should be ok, right?

 

[Sniper82]

Originally posted by: mrblotto
Man, just in time. I'm fixin to change the rear shoes on my '97 Celica tomorrow (hopefully early enough so it isn't hot as blue blazes out there!)


I've never done this before,but have done minor maintenance a lot (plugs,wires,belts,hoses,filters,etc...). I think if I just take my time and not rush things I should be ok, right?

This was my first time aswell. I had a little trouble with springs here and there but all went pretty well. I actually did it lastnight when the sun went down. I already had one of those lights you strap to your head. Worked great.

I actually sprung for a repair manual for my car just in case. It is nice to have it because I actually had to look at it a couple times to make sure everything was the way it was. Of course if you have a way to jack up the whole rear(I didn't) of the car and you get lost you can aways walk over to the other side to see how it goes back together.

Really I don't think you will have any problem. But like I said the repair manual has detailed pics which is worth the $16.99 at AdvanceAuto and other places. It had ALOT of detailed info on anything you may need to do to your car.

 

[mrblotto]

Thank you so much for the confidence boost! And yes, the repair manuals can be a godsend. The ole girl has almost 200K on it and is still running like a champ. I want to hold off car-payment hell for as long as I can!

PS good idea with the 'headlight' too!

 

[Sniper82]

Originally posted by: mrblotto
Thank you so much for the confidence boost! And yes, the repair manuals can be a godsend. The ole girl has almost 200K on it and is still running like a champ. I want to hold off car-payment hell for as long as I can!

PS good idea with the 'headlight' too!

If you get to worried you could always take multiple pics if you have a digital camera as you take the brakes apart. Then you can look back if you get stuck. But pretty much drum brakes are like a puzzle and can look confusing for someone thats never done it. I sure was when I first saw them.

If you have any issues feel free to post in here.

 

[davesaudio]

Originally posted by: Sniper82

Curious would me pushing on the pedal while the drum is off cause this issue?

If someone taught you to do brakes and left that tidbit out out I'd give em h*ll

Memo to self: Ask the kid If I told him about....

 

[Sniper82]

Originally posted by: davesaudio

Originally posted by: Sniper82

Curious would me pushing on the pedal while the drum is off cause this issue?

If someone taught you to do brakes and left that tidbit out out I'd give em h*ll

Memo to self: Ask the kid If I told him about....

I've seen pads done but never shoes so I am new with them. Live and learn 😀. What exactly does/did it do to the brake system/cylinder? Granted I didn't push the pedal all the way down just enough to see the shoes move some.

 

[BUTCH1]

Glad to hear it worked out, if the fluid has not been bled out for a long time it's a good idea do so anyway
so you did a little preventative maintaince at the same time .

 

[LTC8K6]

Of course if you have a way to jack up the whole rear(I didn't) of the car and you get lost you can aways walk over to the other side to see how it goes back together.

Take a few pics before you take it apart. :camera: 🙂

 

[mrblotto]

Man, it was a lot easier than I thought. Only took about 1 1/2 hours to do it..........uhhh....maybe I should elaborate
-got up late (around 10:30...lol)
-11 am-went outside, backed car into garage
-had radio on, mentioned it was 90 degrees already
-took off tire, pounded on drum for a while. didn't even budge
-looked around for adjuster-saw 2 rubber covers. took them both off and monkeyed around
-got a screwdriver in there, but couldn't turn it for the life of me. After multiple shots of liquid wrench, nothing happened except the brakes got tighter........yeesh
-tried other rubber cover-no clue what's under it. screwdriver didn't catch anything. sweat is now dripping off of me
-noticed 2 bolts. decided to remove them. found out they hold the brake line and grease fitting in place......sigh
-12 Noon-temp about 93. banged on drum some more out of futility. again, nothing but brake dust which immediately stuck to me and created a black sweaty 'goo'........
-scraped the hell outa my fingers trying to get the 2 bolts in. finally got them back in.
-1pm- put tire back on and put everything away
-130p after shower, call around and drive 20 mins to garage where they took care of it in about 1 1/2 hours while I watched TV and ate lunch in the waiting room.....lol!

I gave it a try, but out of fear of heatstroke and making the situation worse, I deferred to the professionals.......

 

[Sniper82]

Originally posted by: mrblotto
Man, it was a lot easier than I thought. Only took about 1 1/2 hours to do it..........uhhh....maybe I should elaborate
-got up late (around 10:30...lol)
-11 am-went outside, backed car into garage
-had radio on, mentioned it was 90 degrees already
-took off tire, pounded on drum for a while. didn't even budge
-looked around for adjuster-saw 2 rubber covers. took them both off and monkeyed around
-got a screwdriver in there, but couldn't turn it for the life of me. After multiple shots of liquid wrench, nothing happened except the brakes got tighter........yeesh
-tried other rubber cover-no clue what's under it. screwdriver didn't catch anything. sweat is now dripping off of me
-noticed 2 bolts. decided to remove them. found out they hold the brake line and grease fitting in place......sigh
-12 Noon-temp about 93. banged on drum some more out of futility. again, nothing but brake dust which immediately stuck to me and created a black sweaty 'goo'........
-scraped the hell outa my fingers trying to get the 2 bolts in. finally got them back in.
-1pm- put tire back on and put everything away
-130p after shower, call around and drive 20 mins to garage where they took care of it in about 1 1/2 hours while I watched TV and ate lunch in the waiting room.....lol!

I gave it a try, but out of fear of heatstroke and making the situation worse, I deferred to the professionals.......

Had I had any problems like that I would have to. The drums on my car came right off on both sides.

 

[exdeath]

Originally posted by: mrblotto
Man, it was a lot easier than I thought. Only took about 1 1/2 hours to do it..........uhhh....maybe I should elaborate
-got up late (around 10:30...lol)
-11 am-went outside, backed car into garage
-had radio on, mentioned it was 90 degrees already
-took off tire, pounded on drum for a while. didn't even budge
-looked around for adjuster-saw 2 rubber covers. took them both off and monkeyed around
-got a screwdriver in there, but couldn't turn it for the life of me. After multiple shots of liquid wrench, nothing happened except the brakes got tighter........yeesh
-tried other rubber cover-no clue what's under it. screwdriver didn't catch anything. sweat is now dripping off of me
-noticed 2 bolts. decided to remove them. found out they hold the brake line and grease fitting in place......sigh
-12 Noon-temp about 93. banged on drum some more out of futility. again, nothing but brake dust which immediately stuck to me and created a black sweaty 'goo'........
-scraped the hell outa my fingers trying to get the 2 bolts in. finally got them back in.
-1pm- put tire back on and put everything away
-130p after shower, call around and drive 20 mins to garage where they took care of it in about 1 1/2 hours while I watched TV and ate lunch in the waiting room.....lol!

I gave it a try, but out of fear of heatstroke and making the situation worse, I deferred to the professionals.......

You drive a manual don't you? It's a habit you don't even think about...

Take the parking brake off next time 😉

 

[Sniper82]

Originally posted by: exdeath

Originally posted by: mrblotto
Man, it was a lot easier than I thought. Only took about 1 1/2 hours to do it..........uhhh....maybe I should elaborate
-got up late (around 10:30...lol)
-11 am-went outside, backed car into garage
-had radio on, mentioned it was 90 degrees already
-took off tire, pounded on drum for a while. didn't even budge
-looked around for adjuster-saw 2 rubber covers. took them both off and monkeyed around
-got a screwdriver in there, but couldn't turn it for the life of me. After multiple shots of liquid wrench, nothing happened except the brakes got tighter........yeesh
-tried other rubber cover-no clue what's under it. screwdriver didn't catch anything. sweat is now dripping off of me
-noticed 2 bolts. decided to remove them. found out they hold the brake line and grease fitting in place......sigh
-12 Noon-temp about 93. banged on drum some more out of futility. again, nothing but brake dust which immediately stuck to me and created a black sweaty 'goo'........
-scraped the hell outa my fingers trying to get the 2 bolts in. finally got them back in.
-1pm- put tire back on and put everything away
-130p after shower, call around and drive 20 mins to garage where they took care of it in about 1 1/2 hours while I watched TV and ate lunch in the waiting room.....lol!

I gave it a try, but out of fear of heatstroke and making the situation worse, I deferred to the professionals.......

You drive a manual don't you? It's a habit you don't even think about...

Take the parking brake off next time 😉

yep with the parking brake on you can forget getting it off if that was the case.

 

[Crucial]

Originally posted by: Sniper82

Originally posted by: exdeath

Originally posted by: mrblotto
Man, it was a lot easier than I thought. Only took about 1 1/2 hours to do it..........uhhh....maybe I should elaborate
-got up late (around 10:30...lol)
-11 am-went outside, backed car into garage
-had radio on, mentioned it was 90 degrees already
-took off tire, pounded on drum for a while. didn't even budge
-looked around for adjuster-saw 2 rubber covers. took them both off and monkeyed around
-got a screwdriver in there, but couldn't turn it for the life of me. After multiple shots of liquid wrench, nothing happened except the brakes got tighter........yeesh
-tried other rubber cover-no clue what's under it. screwdriver didn't catch anything. sweat is now dripping off of me
-noticed 2 bolts. decided to remove them. found out they hold the brake line and grease fitting in place......sigh
-12 Noon-temp about 93. banged on drum some more out of futility. again, nothing but brake dust which immediately stuck to me and created a black sweaty 'goo'........
-scraped the hell outa my fingers trying to get the 2 bolts in. finally got them back in.
-1pm- put tire back on and put everything away
-130p after shower, call around and drive 20 mins to garage where they took care of it in about 1 1/2 hours while I watched TV and ate lunch in the waiting room.....lol!

I gave it a try, but out of fear of heatstroke and making the situation worse, I deferred to the professionals.......

You drive a manual don't you? It's a habit you don't even think about...

Take the parking brake off next time 😉

yep with the parking brake on you can forget getting it off if that was the case.

BWAHAHAHAHAHA, I just tried to get the drum off my truck last week to check things out and it wouldn't budge. I didn't even think of that. I don't think I had the parking brake on but I might have. That would explain things though. I'll have to try it again.

 

[marincounty]

Once I put my truck in the shop for some work, and as I arrived at the shop found the mechanic beating on my rear drums with a large hammer, trying to get them off.
They asked me how I got the drums off!
I bought a giant puller at a discount store for like $10, and it worked like a charm.

 

[mrblotto]

LOL......emergency brake. That sounds like something I would do, thats for sure! But no, its an automatic.........