Doing the Brakes - Easy Job?

[Bostonian1976]

This weekend I'll be replacing my rear brake shoes. I've done this on a Saturn before, but never on my Rover. Is there any sort of trickery I should be aware of? I'm assuming the job is pretty straightforward....

Thanks in advance..

[thixon]

Do you have an '88 or a 109? I can't remember. If I remember right, the bleeding procedure is different on the rear brakes of a 109. If you're just doing shoes, then its pretty intuitive. Most drum systems function in a similar manner. you'll sail through with no problems.

[Bostonian1976]

Do you have an '88 or a 109? I can't remember.

an 88 (or two)

[thixon]

It easy. You may have to beat on the drums with a rubber hammer to get them off. Depends on the shape they're in. Once they're off, its not big deal from there. Same basic procedure as what you did on the saturn. Good luck.

[yorker]

Piece of cake. You may have trouble with the screws in the drums if they are still there. Get some anti seize for when you put them back in.

[BackInA88]

Don't the drums have 2 tapped holes on the face?
Just screw in a couple bolts and jack the drum right off the flange.

For the flat head screws that hold the drum, if the hand style impact strips out the phillips.
I use a center punch on the edge of the screw head and with the punch on a angle whack it to break it loose.

Remember the top spring only attaches to the leading shoe (the one against the snail cam) and to a pin on the backing plate by the other shoe.

[greenmeanie]

The usual rule of only doing one side at a time so you have a reference to look at applies. Pay careful attention to the way the shoe return springs are attached as installing them incorrectly will lead to all kinds of fun trying to get things to work afterwards.

I suppose you could read the manual for that but where would the fun be?

Also, as this is the first time you have worked on these brakes so you don't know the age or composition of the shoes, wear a mask. In the old days shoes were made of asbestos which can rather ruin your day.


Cheers
Gregor

[Bostonian1976]

The usual rule of only doing one side at a time so you have a reference to look at applies. Pay careful attention to the way the shoe return springs are attached as installing them incorrectly will lead to all kinds of fun trying to get things to work afterwards.

I suppose you could read the manual for that but where would the fun be?

Also, as this is the first time you have worked on these brakes so you don't know the age or composition of the shoes, wear a mask. In the old days shoes were made of asbestos which can rather ruin your day.


Cheers
Gregor

wow - thanks - I didn't think of that. I have had someone in the family die of asbestos exposure, so I will be cautious.

re: the manual, I don't have one yet

[jp-]

Don't the drums have 2 tapped holes on the face?
Just screw in a couple bolts and jack the drum right off the flange.

Here's a handy tip, back off the brake shoe adjusters all the way before trying to get the drum off. If you don't, the shoes may hit the "lip" on the edge of the drum and could be very hard to get off.

[daveb]

rtfm, dude

This weekend I'll be replacing my rear brake shoes. I've done this on a Saturn before, but never on my Rover. Is there any sort of trickery I should be aware of? I'm assuming the job is pretty straightforward....

Thanks in advance..

[Bostonian1976]

rtfm, dude

don't have one. thanks though

[yorker]

wow - thanks - I didn't think of that. I have had someone in the family die of asbestos exposure, so I will be cautious.

re: the manual, I don't have one yet

you aren't going to die from changing the brakes once just use some common sense though. Buy a couple cans of Brake kleen. You probably should have bought a couple screws for the drums in case yours are all buggered up but you'll probably be fine. As for manuals:

http://www.roversnorth.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3716

http://www.bayourovers.com/trick14.html

[Bostonian1976]

very helpful - thanks very much guys

[daveb]

also learned some time ago there really is no need for the drum screws. if not installed carefully then you might think the drum is on all the way when it actually isn't. then you tighten the wheel nuts up and the wheel stops when it hits the screws which are actually out by 1/16" or so, undetected by you. then you go driving and the wheel rocks back and forth, pushing the brake drum back on, making the wheel nuts loose. if you are lucky you feel a pulsing in the brake pedal and hear odd noises, stop, investigate, and rectify. if you are less lucky the wheel passes you heading south on 95 while you grind to a stop...

oh yeah and the back of the wheel is all buggered up from riding against the screws...

you aren't going to die from changing the brakes once just use some common sense though. Buy a couple cans of Brake kleen. You probably should have bought a couple screws for the drums in case yours are all buggered up but you'll probably be fine. As for manuals:

http://www.roversnorth.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3716

http://www.bayourovers.com/trick14.html

[daveb]

my point exactly. young man, you ought to have one.

don't have one. thanks though