Drum Brake Service Video

Drum brakes are commonly found on the rear axle of many pickups, older sedans, and work vans still on the road today. They use curved brake shoes that press outward against a rotating drum, unlike the pads and rotors commonly found on front brakes. This video shows what a rear drum brake assembly looks like after removing the drum. It highlights the brake shoes, return springs, adjuster, and wheel cylinder in the order a technician typically encounters them during a brake job.

Inside the drum, hydraulic pressure from the master cylinder pushes fluid into the wheel cylinder, which forces two pistons outward against the tops of the shoes. The brake shoes pivot at the bottom and press outward against the drum's inner surface. As the friction material wears, a self-adjuster mechanism takes up the slack to help maintain a consistent brake pedal height.

Return springs pull the brake shoes back into position when you release the pedal. A broken return spring can cause the rear brakes to drag or overheat.

A low or spongy brake pedal may indicate a problem with the drum brake assembly. Other warning signs include pulling to one side while braking or a scraping sound from a rear wheel. A parking brake that no longer holds the vehicle on an incline may also indicate an issue with the rear brake assembly.

Stop-and-go traffic on Kingshighway and William Street repeatedly heats the rear brake drums during frequent stops. This heat can glaze the brake shoe friction material and shorten its service life compared to steady highway driving. If the front end also feels unstable during hard stops, have the front brakes inspected during the same visit. Our technicians can determine whether brake pad replacement is necessary while checking the condition of both front and rear braking systems.

At Parks Automotive, we begin rear drum service by removing both drums and measuring the brake shoe thickness and drum inner diameter. We also inspect the wheel cylinders for brake fluid leaks behind the dust boots. Anything outside spec gets replaced in axle pairs to keep braking balanced side to side, and we clean and lubricate the self-adjusters before reassembly.

Drum work is one part of our broader brake system inspection and repair category. With 43 years of experience working on rear-wheel-drive trucks and older domestic sedans, most drum configurations are familiar territory rather than a look-up job.

Call Parks Automotive at (573) 335-2599 to have your rear brakes inspected, or find your auto repair in Cape Girardeau online. Drivers from Jackson and Scott City have us handle rear drum service as part of routine brake work.