25 Nov 11 11:59, Mark Hofmann wrote to All:   
      
      
    MH> Was wondering how difficult it was to replace drum brakes?   
      
   It's quite easy, if you leave one side intact while you work on the other.   
      
   Remove both drums, but don't touch one set of brakes until you're   
   satisfied with what you've done to the other side.   
      
   While you're working on one side, use the intact side as a reference to   
   aide in putting the worked on side back together. Getting the parking   
   brake back together is usually what people have a problem with...it's not   
   hard to do, you just need to know when it is time to reassemble that part   
   of the rear brakes.   
      
    MH> I have always replaced disc brakes, but never done drums.  The   
    MH> Durango has gone about 70k miles on the same rear brakes (drum).  The   
    MH> front is disc, and I have replaced them several times.   
      
   Just pull a drum and check the thickness of the shoes. If they're thin in   
   the center of the shoe, they'll need to be replaced sooner or later, but   
   sooner than later. If you get my drift. With 70k on the back, they should   
   be OK for now (weight transfer back to front during braking determines   
   when they will wear out).   
      
   If you're hearing a metal to metal squeal now, that would be an indication   
   that the shoes are getting to the point they'll need replacement. That   
   squeal is called a wear indicator, built into the shoes.   
      
   OTH, if you put your wife in the driver's seat and let her drive by you at   
   10mph while applying the brakes, you might be able to hear them grind if   
   they're worn too far. They'll definately need to be fixed in that case.   
      
   Funny how different products wear. My 02 Chevrolet 1/2 ton Silverado has   
   72k on it and I was inspecting the front rotors and pads at the tire store   
   that mounted two fresh tires for me on Wednesday. They were as good as   
   new, shiney with no grooves in the rotors and still plenty of material on   
   the original pads.   
      
   Something that can help you keep from wearing out those pads and shoes so   
   fast is to drive it in 3rd gear (it's a 1:1 ratio) instead of OD,   
   especially around town in traffic. That'll give the driver a bit of engine   
   braking to help slow the car down before you need to apply the brakes. I   
   do this, but notice a slight decrease in fuel mileage from 13mpg around   
   town to 12. Only on the freeway and some highways here do I use OD. Both   
   methods of driving keep the engine rpm under 2k, so I'm happy with that.   
      
      
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