Rear Drum Brakes Replacement

Hello Taco owners,

Its time to replace the rear drum brakes on my 2013 Tacoma 4wd. I am wanting to replace the shoes and drums, and possibly the wheel cylinders. Les Schwab quoted me $650 to complete this service, but after watching videos online, it literally seems like any monkey with a hand tool kit and a Saturday afternoon can do it themselves. Does anybody have any advice and tips on doing this job yourself and do you typically need to replace the wheel cylinders? I was looking at this kit on Rockauto More Information for POWER STOP KOE15389DK (rockauto.com), it looks cheap, but am wondering if it's too cheap, anybody have any good recommendations for parts?

Thanks!

 

Don't know your mileage but I did my complete rear system recently with wheel cylinders at 190k miles.
You will need 2 bolts to pull drums off easy way vs beating (see the 2 tapped holes in your new drums old has same).
A good jack and 2 jack stands.
Brake pliers to pull springs (screwdriver sucks) and a brake tool to put retainer springs on (pliers suck).
To get to wheel cylinders a brake line wrench and penetrating spray to remove the metal brake line without destroying it.
Rubber caps to cover the open brake line so brake fluid doesn't drain out as you mess around.
Correct brake fluid to refill and bleed. Latex disposable gloves.
Correct sockets for bolts and 21mm for lugs then a torque wrench to reinstall wheels and lugs back on.
Brake cleaner spray to wash down backing plate and cardboard to catch all the mess.
New drums will rust quickly so if you care paint outside black Rustoleum and let dry (make sure they fit first).
Do one side at a time and take several pics as easy to mess up.
Grease the parking brake lever pivots where they fit on shoes, internal of adjuster, and the 2 spots where each brake shoe contacts backing plate.
Make sure the backing plate outer edges where drums fit around/in groove are not bent up/or they will make noise. Paint if old or rusty.
Adjust the parking brake/shoes correctly.
As you said all the videos/help pages are on TW so all it takes is time. Plan all day and wear crap clothes ha ha.

Many on TW use only OEM parts but on my 09 4wd I used Advance Auto new rear brake drums YH140819 (2 year warranty), new shoes S871 (lifetime), wheel cylinders WCA131480 (2 diff bore sizes so verify you get correct ones stamped on OEMs), and new spring kit 17263 all about $300 all with no issues or vibrations. I do have Powerstop Z36 pads and drilled/slotted rotors on front and they work well but again it's a matter of opinion.

 

Great thorough writeup on btake shoe r&r muddog.

Dont use just any grease on the shoe contact points and adjusters. Brake is basically White lithium. It doesnt attract and hold dirt.

 

Tip.

After truck is secured on stands remove both drums and hose out everything to improve visibility

Before disassembly of one side, take pictures. As you disassemble take more.

And for reassembly you can always look at the other side if you forgot to photo something. Just remember the other side is a mirror.

Oh yeah. Make sure the e brake is off before you try to pull the drums.

Curious at mileage and why you think it all needs replacement?

 

I just did that same exact kit on my truck. Power stop makes good stuff. No complaints. The silver coated drums look good.

 

Pull the wheel cyl boots back a tiny bit with a pocket screwdriver and see if they're leaking.

Be careful mounting the shoes and springs because if you jam the wheel cylinder left and right too much the piston can pop out and then it will be damaged.

The horseshoe clips can be a pain, don't accidentally put a screwdriver through your hand prying them off. I have some special pliers for spreading those things out safely. And also the push tool for the hold down springs.

Any monkey can replace drum brakes but also any monkey can fuck them up too

Go slow and wear safety glass when you start stretching the springs

 

I did this not too long ago.
Weak parking brake after new install | Tacoma World
I used the Z36 rear kit from Rock Auto. I also replaced both wheel cylinders just because they were 17 years old and it would suck if they leaked later. Advics was my choice, just like the originals.
Give it some time to wear the parking brake function in.

 

Funny you say that. My ebrake was pretty weak right after the install. I thought something was wrong at first but now after a few hundred miles it's holding way better.

 

Wow, I literally made post on the “parking brake issue”.
Good to hear it can “wear in”.

Here is my post.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/or-afraid-to-admit-it.800728/

 

The only complaint I have with the PowerStop is the springs are not the same as OE.

 

Same!

I had a buddy of mine do the brakes for me, but I was hanging out while he did them. We ended up having the same issue with the spring. Other than that, it seemed like a good quality kit. It was hard to count the 15 clicks out on the adjuster as it only clicked in the tightening direction. But he was sure he got around 15-20 clicks out. Cycled the E brake a bunch of times, seemed to self adjust and the truck drove great.

 

I’ll add a couple things.

Hose off = wash down with brake cleaner. If you’re fortunate to not be stuck with using low voc brake cleaner, it’ll clean good. Buy too much brake cleaner, better to have too much than run out & need to go get more.

Do one side at a time. Drum brakes have lotsa parts that need to go on correctly. If you get lost during assembly, you have something to look at.

You don’t have to have the brake specific tools but it certainly makes it easier. I’ve done it with needle nose pliers and a screwdriver, it sucked.

Keep the braking surfaces clean. Don’t get greasy finger prints on the shoes or drum braking surfaces. New drums are usually oil coated, make sure to thoroughly clean them.

When it’s all done, don’t forget to adjust the self adjusters correctly. They don’t self adjust very well.

The task can be intimidating for someone who’s never done it. Just take your time, don’t rush, use common sense, ask for help if you get stuck.

 

I use side cutters.
Needle nose can be dangerous.
I actually bought a drum brake spring tool the day after I did mine.
My last set went went over 160k. If these last that long, I might do them again with a “new truck”.

 

I use side cutters

some guys like a big slotted screwdriver with a notch in the head

 

Don't accidentally get in the truck and hit the brake pedal with the drums off

 

I just did this job not long ago and found this video to be helpful.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3ru8E9iw7nM&pp=ygUSVGFjb21hIGJyYWtlIGRydW1z

 

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Did mine with the help of my youngest daughter last summer. Still don't know how anyone does it by themselves because trying to hold everything in place while getting some of those springs back on, we could have used a "fifth" hand...

 

One of my favorite tools for drums is a pair of small, like 4-5", needle-nose vise grips. Need to get a return spring on? Clamp near the top of a hook, stretch & (hopefully have room to) pop it on. Shoe retainer caps? Clamp lightly from the top, you can compress the spring & easily turn the cap (and see where it's turned)

I've done them with the "right" tools, TBH I prefer my way, as long as I can fit them in there.

 

My small needle nose vice grips I’m calling one of the right tools. Sometimes getting the outer cup on for the pin, spring and cups retainer, the cups are oddly huge and there is no tool made for it.