Time for a brake job...???

My old power drums actually work pretty well still, but I think the linings may be near the end. Very grimy/dusty behind that drum! I don't have any experience with drum brakes, at what point do you decide it's time for a brake job? I figure it may be a job to do next spring. How about cleaning up this mess? Can I just take a few cans of brake cleaner and thoroughly spray out all this crap?

 

another

 

last one

 

On the brighter side, I determined the source of some rear end noise that happens on left turns only. I was afraid it was the rear diff, or a suspension problem, but it turns out my 245/60/15 right rear tire is catching the exhaust on a hard left turn, causing the chrome tip of the tail pipe to whack against the bottom of the (newly chromed)bumper. Guess I'll slow down a bit on those left turns, until I figure out what I want to do about the problem. :af:

 

Take the car outside, use an air wand and 100 lbs of air pressure to blow the dust off. Looks like one of you rear wheel cylinders is damp/leaking. Replace brakes when they are about 1/8" above the rivets holding them the metal shoes. If those are orig hardware sets on your car, go to AutoZone and get a new hardware set for each wheel.

 

Brake Problem

Avoid breathing or inhaling the dust as brake shoes contain asbestos, which can be very bad for the lungs ! :TU:

 

Don't use air. Puts too many nasties in the air as you are cleaning.


Any parts store sells brake cleaner, usually for about 99 cents a can generic. Spray this all over all your brake components, and it will remove more grime than air. Put some cardboard under where the solvent will be dripping off if you have a pristine white concerete driveway, as the solvent with brake dust is as hard to remove from a driveway as it is a tire.

 

Yeah, all 4 are right down around an 1/8" left. I figured on replacing the hardware on all of them too, since there were no records of any brake work in the pile of receipts I got with the car. Wheel cylinders too... there's a couple leaking.

 

Do only one wheel at a time. If you can't remember how they all go back together, you can then at least reference the other side. :Smarty: The fronts don't have the automatic adjusters as are on the rear and are therefore a little simpler. Be sure to use the proper old style brake tool. Vise grips can and do slip on those springs. :spank: :af:

 

Old Tricks

David:

Wash things off with water, outside, then blow dry with air. No dust, no rust and the rest of the stuff on the ground will wash up with water.

The brake cleaning solvents will affect the seals in the wheel cylinders. If you have stubborn deposits, clean them with the solvents after you disassemble the brakes.

Do one side at a time and remember the other side is a mirror image, not the same as you look at it. :TU:

Good Luck,

Jim

 

Hey, thanks for all the tips, guys. Probably won't get to it this fall, but a good project for next spring. (that's right, no heated winter storage here)