need to fix my rear drum today...so I need info. help or be shot

[Keith]

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show...hreadid=585393

take a look there, that is my situation. No one is on that forum, so I'm gonna post here hopeing I can get some info. I have about 4 horus until I can get this done, so BREAK Y0 SeLF and GIVE me da inFO!
ehhehe
Sorry for the cross post, but info= needed now.

wee

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[Mulder]

You can't remove the drum, it has to be there to hold the wheel on.
You could pull it off to see what's going on in there.
Is the fluid level in the reservoir going down, and is there any fluid or wetness visible on the backing plate behind the drum?
If you heard the noise only when braking it might just be that the shoes are metal-to-metal, but if you hear it all the time it may be that something came apart in there.

[Keith]

thanks for the response...

1. damn. (hopeing I can remove the drum)
2. the fluid level seems ok, and I haven't seen any wetness.

I hear the noise all the time. It is louder when i"m at a slow roll, and when I go faster, it just isn't as obtrusive.

more of a
screeeeeeeeeetch
screeeeeeeeeeetch
(increase speed)
screetch
screethc
scth
sth
th
th
th


get the idea?


Ok, so point number 2 is that I have done disk brakes a few times. I did a search on the brake forum and haven't found any good instructions for removing a drum brake.

How hard is it?
Keith


edit: I know this sounds dumb, but I can just take everything out of the drum brake? whatever I can get out, take out?

[Mulder]

The drum should pull off, although they tend to get rusted on sometimes. You can whack it with a rubber mallet (don't use a sledge or it will break the drum), that should loosen it if it's stuck. It also helps to back off the parking brake adjustment to retract the shoes.
Once you get it off any issues with the brakes should be obvious. Given the age of the car maybe one of the springs broke or something like that.
You can't take the brake assembly out though, or you will end up with no brakes.

[Keith]

cool deal man, I think I'll give this a try in a few mins If its one of the springs or something, I'd be really happy
If that one brake doesn't work, I could care less....just needs to get down to jersey. I have 3 other brakes that work fine
keith

[migs76]

teh keif...in jersey?! break out the beers!

[Jaxx]

rear drum .. is that like das pooper

[Keith]

seems

Originally posted by migs76
teh keif...in jersey?! break out the beers!

damn right. Free b33r for labor

[migs76]

where in jersey you going to be? i may not be the most mechanically inclined but always willing to help.

[immortal_suby]

IIRC you have to take off teh wheel nut to remove the drum - I think thats the way it was in my wagon. After the wheel nut is off and you don't have the parking brake engaged the drum should slide off - if not there are 2 holes in the drum that you thread a bolt into and keep tightening the bolt in it will push the drum off.

Once inside there is a wheel cylinder which pushes out each side to move the brake shoes into the drum at the top. If you could wire the shoes together at this point you could keep from dragging the brakes.

The leaking could be from the wheel cylinder going bad - they are cheap ($20) and easy to replace.

The noise you describe sounds like the wheel nut is not torqued properly. There is a tapered washer behind the wheel nut that holds the bearing in place. If it is not set right the rear end makes noise like you describe - and it is more noticeable at low speed and coming to a stop.

subaruparts.com doesn't have a diagram for the drum brakes

check out this site
http://wac.addr.com/auto/obs/disc/disc.html

[scoobieREX]

get regular brakes!

zing

[mattjk]

you can't remove the drum. when you step on the brakes, the slave cylinder is going to break, because there is nothing to stop it from expanding (shoes against drum) and you'll have no brakes at all.

Whos cares about the noise. as long as it stops the car, just drive it to the shop. Undo the E-brake, pull the drum off (you may need two bolts to force the drum off) and just make sure everthing looks intact. I'm guessing the noise is from your shoes being worns down to the metal (wear indicators).

P.S. jesus you're ****ing dumb. stop calling people n00bs, because you've been on here since 1999 and you haven't learned a thing.

[Keith]

Originally posted by mattjk
P.S. jesus you're ****ing dumb. stop calling people n00bs, because you've been on here since 1999 and you haven't learned a thing.

ps. i never had drum brakes man...I could be here since 1923 and still not know how to do them.

a little rage problem there buddy? Want a hug?

[mattjk]

hug would be nice. thank you.

[Mulder]

Ok, in most cars the drum will just pull off when the wheel is removed, perhaps these are different. It should be obvious with the wheel off if there is anything else holding the drum in place.

IIRC you have to take off teh wheel nut to remove the drum - I think thats the way it was in my wagon. After the wheel nut is off and you don't have the parking brake engaged the drum should slide off - if not there are 2 holes in the drum that you thread a bolt into and keep tightening the bolt in it will push the drum off.

[mattjk]

you don't have to remove the nut to just remove the drum.

[immortal_suby]

I''m assuming this car is awd - is it not?

[mattjk]

fwd

[immortal_suby]

Originally posted by Mulder
Ok, in most cars the drum will just pull off when the wheel is removed, perhaps these are different. It should be obvious with the wheel off if there is anything else holding the drum in place.

nothing will be holding it in place unless the drum is worn enough that there is a metal lip on the inner edge that catches on the shoes.

[immortal_suby]

fwd? damn keif - what kind of ***** are you?

**** it - I ain't giving anymore help to someone who's been around since 99 and still buys a 2wd suby

you're right - he learned nothing.

[mattjk]

Originally posted by immortal_suby
fwd? damn keif - what kind of ***** are you?

**** it - I ain't giving anymore help to someone who's been around since 99 and still buys a 2wd suby

you're right - he learned nothing.

damn dude, I was just joking with him. no need to get harsh.

[immortal_suby]

relax - I'm only kidding around.

there - I threw a stupid tongue out smiley guy in there to denote sarcasm

[munkis]

keith is a n00b and im gonna beat him with a drum brake when he gets to NJ...

so did you take the drum off yet or what?

I bet the shoes are worn out and grinding against the drum...

Jay

[Keith]

FIGHT!!!!
hey, its not only fwd,
but its an automatic!
OHH YEAH!!!
(only for another week..then its a 5speed )


either way guys, thanks for the ideas. I went out to play with the brakes and ended up taking out interior parts insteadonly thing left is the dash, front seats, and front door cards....I figure that by throwing out all the other stuff, I can stop the car using my feet.

ehhe (2000 RS interior being installed)
Tomorrow I play with the brake.
If all else fails....I'm just going to kick it.
THanks again guys
Matt, the hug is $10, I take paypal
Keith