With so many parts hiding inside today\u2019s\u00a0drum brakes<\/a><\/strong>, replacing them is not for the faint of heart. Dealership technicians probably work on drum brakes at least once a week, and brake specialists probably more than once a day. After years in the business, these professionals can offer tips to make DIYers\u2019 foray into replacing drum brakes a little bit less complicated. The next time you\u2019re tackling a drum brake replacement, keep these three pro tips in mind to make the job easier.<\/p>\n Sandwiched between the wheel and wheel hub, brake drums may not move for months. The brake drum is already a tight fit on the wheel hub, as a tight clearance is necessary to keep the drum centered. Over time, rust forms, taking up more space than the original metal, often locking the brake drum to the wheel hub. To remove stuck brake drums, there are a few proven methods:<\/p>\n There are several different brake tools, such as for removing and installing\u00a0tension springs<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and retainers or adjusting the brake self-adjuster. When you\u2019re replacing drum brakes, you\u2019re going to get a lot further \u2014 and work faster and safer \u2014 by choosing the right tools for the job.<\/p>\n You might be able to get by with channel-lock and needle-nose pliers and a big flat screwdriver, but these are general tools meant for general applications. Consult your local NAPA Auto Parts store expert to find the tools designed for your vehicle.<\/p>\n Getting the right parts is usually easier than choosing the right supplies, and the wrong supplies can cause problems down the road. Use brake cleaner and a brush to clean away rust, brake dust and old lubricant from the backing plate, wheel hub and parts to be reused, and have the following items on hand:<\/p>\n Remember to use any lubricant sparingly to reduce the chance of contamination. You can further reduce the risk of contamination by applying the\u00a0brake cleaner<\/a>\u00a0to a rag, rather than applying it to any components directly. Wipe down the brake shoes and brake drum before installing the new drum.<\/p>\n Of course, one of the best tips you can put into practice is to obtain a repair manual. The repair manual has specific information for your vehicle, as well as pictures to help you keep drum brake parts in order. Finally, never be afraid to ask questions if you get stuck \u2014 keeping yourself and your car safe is worth a chat with your local NAPA AutoCare.<\/p>\n Check out all the\u00a0brake system\u00a0products<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0available on\u00a0NAPA Online<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0or trust one of their 17,000\u00a0NAPA AutoCare locations<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0for routine maintenance and repairs. For more information on replacing drum brakes, chat with a knowledgeable expert at your\u00a0local NAPA AUTO PARTS store<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n Photo Credit:\u00a0Right rear brake drum<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>by\u00a0Nathanael Burton<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>(CC BY-SA 2.0<\/strong><\/a>)<\/p>\n This article has been reproduced with the permission of the copyright holder, National Automotive Parts Association. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Click here for more\u00a0<\/i>automotive tips and stories<\/a><\/i><\/strong>\u00a0from NAPA, or here for more information on\u00a0the next Pomona Swap Meet & Classic Car Show<\/a><\/strong>.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":null,"protected":false},"author":98,"featured_media":10268,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"cos_headline_score":0,"cos_seo_score":0,"cos_headline_text":"","cos_headline_has_been_analyzed":false,"cos_last_analyzed_headline":[],"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[805],"tags":[6084,3056,6080,6082,5325,6083,6085,3497,6081,3491,3026,6077,6076,6079,6078],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Brake-Drum.jpg?fit=2592%2C1952&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9nnZN-2FB","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10267"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/98"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10267"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10267\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10271,"href":"https:\/\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10267\/revisions\/10271"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10268"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10267"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10267"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pomonaswapmeet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10267"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}1. Move Stuck Drums<\/strong><\/h5>\n
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2. Use Specialized Tools<\/strong><\/h5>\n
3. Get the Right Supplies<\/strong><\/h5>\n
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