woohog1

Aight guys, Got another question for yall. I was changing my break pads on my truck last night, not a hard job mind you, just one that I really dont want to do. Anyway this brings me to my question about the rear breaks... How in the sam hill do I change change the rear ones. It has shoes, and I have absoultely no clue how to get those suckers off. Do I need to buy any special equipment to change them, I am so confused.
Also when I got the pads off the front. On the drivers side pads, I noticed I was missing a pin that runs through the caliper.No clue how I lost this pin but I took the caliper off and it just wasn't there. I kept hearing a sound coming from that tire, and it sounded like it does when an 18 wheeler stops. Any idea where I could pick one up at. Would I need to change all four pins or is it a possibility that I would need to buy a pack of them and just go ahead and change them all at the same time. Sorry bout the length of this post, just rambling on a bit I guess. Thanks for the help you guys are AWESOME.

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DaveOrion

This may help...http://www.extremehowto.com/xh/artic...ticle_id=60246 What kind of truck???

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Syriana...have you ever tried liquid MDMA?....Liquid MDMA? No....Arash, when you wanna do this?.....After prayer...

woohog1

It is a 1991 chevy s-10 4.3 liter v6 2 wheel drive. Mainly what I would like to know is how to change the rear breaks, or should I just take it to the shop?

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God created man, Sam Colt made them equal.

DaveOrion

Drum brakes are kind of a bitch, lots of springs in there, and it all has to be just so. How many miles are on your truck??? Rear drum brakes last a long time...

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Syriana...have you ever tried liquid MDMA?....Liquid MDMA? No....Arash, when you wanna do this?.....After prayer...

JStrider

get a chiltons guide or similar for your truck... it should have directions for the rear drum brakes. I did em on my explorer and the main thing I have to say is lift up both back tires, pull both tires off, pull both drums off then do one side and get it reassembled, then do the other side, that way you can use the still assembled side to compare when you cant figure out how to get something back in how it was.

I was able to do the drums on my explorer with no special tools other then a couple vice grips to grab the springs... make sure when removing or replacing the springs to stretch them into place, not bend the ends...

that pin was probably the caliper slide pin, just go to autozone or wherever and ask them for one, or a whole set if the other ones look messed up.

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lt1s10

This advice has saved me many a time. If I forget which side the parking brake adjuster goes on or which way the springs were facing then you can just walk over to the other side and take a look.

You don't need anything special to take off the springs and change the shoes and adjust the parking brake. But a pair of brake spring pliers makes putting them back really easy. It'll hook onto the pins and guide the springs right on without struggling. A brake tool set with the pliers, the adjusting tool for the parking brake (much easier to use then a flat blade screwdriver to adjust), and a tool to make releasing the shoes easier isn't really expensive should be between $20-$30. You save more then that doing it yourself and you'll always have the tools after this.

The S10 wheel cylinders (I've seen before) tend to leak with age. So while you are in there check both sides of the backing plate and see if there's fluid leaking. Better to change them if necessary while your in there then go back again later. They aren't that expensive either.

It's not real difficult just go slow and lay out everything you take off in way that you can remember where it came from or go look at the other side. You need the brakes to stop so you want to be sure it's right.

bobby

make sure you really need to do them....as said before...they last a long time!

xoxoxoo

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shakran

I'll say it a third time. Drum brakes suck to work on. I have been known to convert rear brakes to disc just so I won't have to fool with the damn things. If you don't HAVE to change the shoes, DON'T. You'll live longer. Stress kills

lt1s10

Maybe there's a sadistic streak in me then. Or I've just been forced to do it too many times. There's a satisfaction when you're done changing shoes on a drum brake system. It's not up there with sex or anything but still you get that sense of accomplishment after that "oh crap another drum system" feeling you got when you started. But thankfully it's happening less since many cars/trucks now come with rear discs.

They do last a while in the rear for the most part. Of the brake jobs I've done I'd say 75% were due to problems other then the shoes were worn. Mostly leaking or broken wheel cylinders or a broken spring.

poof

Notice on the drum style brakes, there is a leading, and trailing shoe. Don't reverse them accidently.