rear drum question

Ronnie Beck

One of my rear drum brakes(drivers side) has developed a squeek in the last month or so. What should I do? Are they hard to fix/replace? Car is a '97 lancer 1.3.

Was thinking of just ignoring it as i don't think they do much braking anymore

jayok

If they are "squealing" when braking then more than likely the pad is worn. Although, it may be other items.

Pads are cheap I'd recommend you check and replace them.

Avns1s

jayok wrote: »

If they are "squealing" when braking then more than likely the pad is worn. Although, it may be other items.

Pads are cheap I'd recommend you check and replace them.

Pads go with disc brakes. Drum brakes require shoes and they are generally more expensive than pads.

A set of shoes for the rear of your car seem to be about €30 on micksgarage.ie.

As regards changing them. On a car that age, they may not be that straightforward, due to seizure and corrosion. As brakes are critical, I would leave it to someone who knows what they are doing.

Ronnie Beck

jayok wrote: »

If they are "squealing" when braking then more than likely the pad is worn. Although, it may be other items.

Pads are cheap I'd recommend you check and replace them.

should have explained better. They dont squeel when i'm brakingan they seem to work OK. they just squeek when im driving along slowly. Any idea what causes is this

jayok

Avns1s wrote: »

Pads go with disc brakes. Drum brakes require shoes and they are generally more expensive than pads.

Ah -the difficulties of speed reading and not seeing the word "drum"

jayok

Ronnie Beck wrote: »

should have explained better. They dont squeel when i'm brakingan they seem to work OK. they just squeek when im driving along slowly. Any idea what causes is this

Possibly that then they are not retracting fully from the inside of the hub. Could be a stuff / aged spring, rust, etc.

Are you sure it's the brakes and not something else?

Avns1s

jayok wrote: »

Ah -the difficulties of speed reading and not seeing the word "drum"

No bother. I know the feeling!! Fair play for trying to help. I hope my post didnt come across as having a go because I certainly didnt intend to.

jayok

Avns1s wrote: »

I hope my post didnt come across as having a go because I certainly didnt intend to.

Not at all!

Avns1s

Ronnie Beck wrote: »

should have explained better. They dont squeel when i'm brakingan they seem to work OK. they just squeek when im driving along slowly. Any idea what causes is this

As jayok said, they may not be retracting fully. The handbrake mechanism may be responsible for this. Either the activating lever on the shoes or perhaps the cable could be sticking. How does the handbrake feel as you pull up the lever? How high does it come up?

If it's been a while since the shoes were changed, the linings might be partially coming or lifting off the actual shoe itself, as was the case in a car I had to sort last week.

Man of Aran

jayok wrote: »

Possibly that then they are not retracting fully from the inside of the hub. Could be a stuff / aged spring, rust, etc.

Are you sure it's the brakes and not something else?

All of these and the handbrake mechanism / adjusters too. Could be binding there.
As said before, brakes are critical to safety. If in any doubt, take to qualified tech.

Man of Aran

Avns1s you beat me to it!

Avns1s

Man of Aran wrote: »

Avns1s you beat me to it!

I wish there was a prize for first!!! :D:D

Ronnie Beck

Avns1s wrote: »

As jayok said, they may not be retracting fully. The handbrake mechanism may be responsible for this. Either the activating lever on the shoes or perhaps the cable could be sticking. How does the handbrake feel as you pull up the lever? How high does it come up?

If it's been a while since the shoes were changed, the linings might be partially coming or lifting off the actual shoe itself, as was the case in a car I had to sort last week.

Tightened the handbrake there about about a year ago and I've only had this problem for about two months. I'll have to get her up on a stand and have a look. Cheers lads. Have an idea of what to look out for now.

Avns1s

Ronnie Beck wrote: »

Tightened the handbrake there about about a year ago and I've only had this problem for about two months. I'll have to get her up on a stand and have a look. Cheers lads. Have an idea of what to look out for now.

The fact that you needed to tighten the handbrake might indicate that the (presumably automatic) adjusters might be seized or partially seized.

d o'c

your shoes are rubbing on the drums because you have adjusted the cable too tight. If you jack up the back and try and turn the wheel by hand with handbrake off you'll find it's sticking.
reverse your tensioning until you can turn the wheel by hand.

The fact that you've got this slack could be down to the adjuster within the drum sticking and not advancing as the shoes wear. The adjuster works similar to a pawl in a rachet, increments are small relative to time, so sticking/seizure is common. A tight spot as the wheel is turned could be down to drum wear.

I'd back off the cable, and take it to someone to take the drums off for a proper check. If you wish to do it yourself, you may have to reverse the adjuster through the access hole at the back of the drum.

use axle stands if crawling underneath

Ronnie Beck

d o'c wrote: »

your shoes are rubbing on the drums because you have adjusted the cable too tight. If you jack up the back and try and turn the wheel by hand with handbrake off you'll find it's sticking.
reverse your tensioning until you can turn the wheel by hand.

Cheers done this today. I must have adjusted the handbrake to tight the last time (at the lever) All sorted! Thanks for your help lads. The only thing I would add is to pull the handbrake up and down every time you adjust to let it settle and chock the front wheels and leave it in gear.