I changed the front rotors and pads in my 02' Prizm myself, with great success. I just researched how the pads, rotors and calipers work together and how they are housed and bam I bought a couple jack stands, and a jack and I changed my front disc brakes for the first time, taking about 1.5 hrs. Now this car has drum brakes in the back, and I wanted to know how much harder is that to replace for someone like me you think? I now know how drum system's work, and have all the tools to change the brakes, but i wanna get an idea of what i should be expecting. Also if you have done this, is there any advice you would give me? Thanks!Are changing brake drums as easy as changing disc brakes?Take a picture of the shoes, springs and all the other stuff BEFORE you take it apart.
You can do it.
Got a spring brake tool?
And retainer tool?
You can do it without them, but it's a bugger getting it all back together.
Oh, and a brake adjuster spoon too.Are changing brake drums as easy as changing disc brakes?If you are doing it for the first time it is best to jack up both sides of the car and set on jack stands pull both wheels and drums and use one side as a reference to put the other side back together a few more parts than the front pads but it is easy to do. This is how i learned many many years ago.Are changing brake drums as easy as changing disc brakes?I agree, do one side at a time and use the other as a reference. Its not as easy as disc brakes but you should be able to figure it out. Plan on it taking longer than a few hours your first time Good luck!Are changing brake drums as easy as changing disc brakes?You'll need a few drum brake tools - a tool to release and reinstall the springs and a tool to install the keepers against the shoes.
Disassemble one side at a time and lay the springs out on the floor in the position that you removed them. It's good to have the other side as a guide if you get confused (keep in mind, it's a mirror image - left to right is reversed).
Put a little dab of grease on the tabs where the shoes ride against the backing plate, check the self adjuster for proper operation, slap the drum back on and you should be good to go.
If the pedal seems lower than usual, try tapping the brake while you back up - this will self adjust the brakes.Are changing brake drums as easy as changing disc brakes?its a pain in the *** getting it back together..disc brakes are a breeze compared to drums. need a spring tool of course. also when putting the drum back on the shoes mess with the star wheel to get the shoes to just be scraping the drum by a hair. good luckAre changing brake drums as easy as changing disc brakes?Easier if you are just going to change the drums, just take the old one off and replace it with the new one. But if you are talking about doing the whole back break system, then yes it can be, only because you have to take it a part and put it back together the right way. If you know how it works then you have it half beat.
The only thing I can tell you that will make a difference is that, you should take your time and clean every thing as clean as possible.
Make sure you clean or replace the masters as well as the shoes of course and make sure to bleed the entire system when you are done starting with the one that is farthest from the master break cylinder in the engine compartment which will be the right rear wheel.
Good luck....peace....
