How To Assemble a Chevy Rear Drum Brake? (Full Guide)

The rear drum brake on your Chevy may seem like an insignificant part. But you might be wrong to think that way.

As the rear drum brakes generate less heat and are more cost-effective as they require little to no maintenance. Now the question is, how to assemble a Chevy rear drum brake?

Firstly, take the backing plate and then screw in the wheel cylinder. Start with the primary shoe and get the parking brake arm and self-adjuster arm. Install all the screws and springs in place. Get in the secondary shoe now. Finally, install the returning spring and self-adjustment.

This was just a short briefing on the topic so, please stick with this write-up for further ins and outs on your Chevy’s rear drum brakes.

Contents show

Can You Assemble a Chevy Rear Drum Brake Yourself?

It’s not impossible to do anything if you believe you can. The case is the same for your chevy as well. Yes, you can assemble your chevy Rear Drum Brake all by yourself, if you have the dedication to complete the work.

Mechanic Cost

Not everybody has the dedication and the time to do this tedious job all by themselves. Also, who would want to take the hard way when they have the cash to spare?

Yes, it’s completely justified to get the task done by a mechanic. As assembling the rear drum brake on your Chevy can be quite tedious and difficult at times, it’s wise to call in a mechanic.

The labor cost may vary greatly depending on your exact location and the model of your Chevy. However, an estimation may suggest the cost range from $200 to $400.

Parts Cost

Keep in mind that the cost above is only for the labor or mechanic itself. If you’re planning on replacing some parts from the drum brake while assembling it, then be prepared as the costs would only skyrocket.

Typical prices may range from $30 to $60 for the rear drum brake itself. If you plan on replacing the brake shoe set only then prices may range from $15 to $50.

As bad as it may sound, you might only need to replace two or more parts from your Chevy’s rear drum brake. Some common replacement parts might be the wheel cylinder and the brake shoes.

You can pick the parts for assembling the Chevy rear drum brake from one of these brands, Dorman, Acdelco, Surestop, and some others. However, we’ve found the two most frequent parts that you may need to replace. Check the links below!

Tools Required For Assembling

Now, if you’re asking about the specific tools required to help with the chevy rear drum brake assembly process then there isn’t much except for the screwdriver and some safety gloves.

However, let’s look at the list of essential parts that are the ingredients for this specific assembling process.

Backing plate
Wheel cylinder along with the piston

Primary braking shoe along with the parking brake arm
Self-adjuster arm and spring assembly
Secondary braking shoe and equalizer bar

Retaining spring for secondary shoe

How To Assemble Rear Drum Brakes On Chevy Trucks?

Assembling your Chevy truck’s rear drum brake isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. It’s not a lie that the job is quite labor-intensive and time-consuming. Not everyone has the time to spare.

We’ve heard you and gone ahead to make the assembly feel like a breeze to you. Keep your eyes on the steps below to get the job done in no time.

Step 1: Start With The Backing Plate

It’s a wise choice to start with the backing plate which is a large circular metal plate that functions as the solid foundation of the drum brake.

It’s typically made of steel and has the wheel cylinders and the infamous brake shoes attached to them. The backing plate is called the foundation for a reason.

If the foundation is not built properly, then the rest of the assembly would just eventually tumble over no matter how strongly it is prepared.

Step 2: Install The First Brake Shoe And Mount The Wheel Cylinder

Hold the wheel cylinder in the right way. Carefully mount it using two bolts. Now start with the primary brake shoe as it is quite a hassle to install so it’s better to get those parts in line first.

Then hook in the parking brake arm. Now bring out the self-adjuster arm and plug it into the primary brake shoe. Also, take the spring assembly and attach it to the brake shoe.

Insert the piston onto the wheel cylinder and try to get the spring onto the pushrod hook to create a little bit of tension on the spring.

Step 3: Install The Secondary Shoe And Tighten The Brake Shoes

Now Gently grab the equalizer bar and hook it up with the primary and the secondary brake shoes. Once it’s connected to both ends of the brake shoes, it’s time to get the equalizer lined up with the parking brake arm.

Following the same method as with the primary shoe, get the pushrod and tension spring installed in the secondary shoe without going through any unnecessary headaches.

If the assembly had been done properly so far, then the secondary shoe wouldn’t jump apart after light installation.

Although the secondary shoe had just been installed lightly, it’s now time to bring in the self-adjuster spring and connect it to both ends of the shoe. Take care as it’s side specific.

Now, finally, attach the retaining spring to the secondary shoe and connect the self-adjuster to hold the arms in place.

And there you have it, the drum brake of your Chevy should be assembled correctly by now.

Conclusion

Assembling the Rear drum brake of your Chevy could be a daunting task to do. However, this doesn’t always have to be the case. It can be less tedious if done with proper guidance or assistance.

Hence, if you’ve kept a keen lookout throughout this piece of writing then it could act as a reassurance for your newly acquired knowledge.

It’s been great accompanying you on your idealistic journey of assembling the rear drum brake on your Chevy.

So take care of the rear drum brake as it is essential for lowering the tension on the rear wheels, especially while parking. Hopefully, you’ve been intrigued by the assembling process.

Related Posts: