On a scale of one to ten how hard would it be for a novice like myself to do
my own rear brakes?
Ive done front, super easy but i've never attempted rear drum brakes...
Whats your opinions?
Also, what kind of wear would warrant having new drums put on at same time?
I been getting scraping sounds from the back lately ..
were at 134 569 kms now..

 

On Tue, 15 Mar 2005 17:07:15 -0600, "Jody" <jaaribare@yahoo.com>
wrote:

>On a scale of one to ten how hard would it be for a novice like myself to do
>my own rear brakes?
>Ive done front, super easy but i've never attempted rear drum brakes...
>Whats your opinions?
>Also, what kind of wear would warrant having new drums put on at same time?
>I been getting scraping sounds from the back lately ..
>were at 134 569 kms now..
>
not very if you can get the drums off. It's also easier if you pick
up basic tools. There is a plier shaped thing that will help snap
springs in place and install the hold downs but I have done the job
without. You will probably want a vise available in case you need it
to get the parking brake lever off the shoe (but that might be the
ford I was working on). You also need to clean up th eethreads on
the adjuster and make sure it works smoothly. Sometimes they are
jammed up with brake dust and corrosion.

I looked at the online manual. It's pretty basic but *any* drum brake
instructions are about the same. The basic technology goes back to
the 1940's or earlier. There are some tricks that make it easier if
you can find an old mechanic to show you.

 

Jody wrote:

> On a scale of one to ten how hard would it be for a novice like
> myself to do my own rear brakes?
> Ive done front, super easy but i've never attempted rear drum
> brakes... Whats your opinions?
> Also, what kind of wear would warrant having new drums put on at same
> time? I been getting scraping sounds from the back lately ..
> were at 134 569 kms now..

You'll need a hand impact driver with a #2 phillips to get the screw
out of the drum. Other than that it's a standard drum brake. As
nothermark pointed out, a pair of brake pliers will come in handy.