I am going to replace the brake shoes on my Malibu. I have never worked on drums before.

My question is when changing shoes, do you need to replace the springs and assorted hardware?

Thanks Rick

These parts are replaced when they look corroded or really rusty, or when you reach 90-100k miles.

Usually I change springs, anchor pins, & misc if I think they look bad (heated) or don't know how long they have been on there.

If this is your first time with drums, only do one side at a time, to use the opther side for reference.

When you take the drum springs off be careful.

Oh, take apart the star-adjuster and clean it, grease the threads and reassemble. Grese the pads the brake shoes slide against on the backing plate. Not a lot, just a swipe.

You can do one of two things. use some brake clean to clean them up, but if they have never been replaced, I would get a new hardware kit. you can get them at pretty much any local auto parts store and it costs like $30 and comes with everything.

I am doing the same thing. The spring on the parking brake strut is trashed and I can not find a new one. The hardware kits contain all the other springs but that :confused: graemlins/angry.gif

Invest in a new spring kit. It's reasonably cheap insurance to do a good job.
Some other tips: Check the raised "pads" on the backing plates (where the shoes contact/rub upon) for deep grooves. Your new shoes can get hung up in these. Some "Lubri-plate" or anti-sieze goo on these spots is a good idea.

Invest in a brake "multi-tool". It's an oversized pliers-looking thing, with a bent hook and claw on the business ends, and a spring remover/installer of different types on each handle. This tool will save you much aggrivation with the springs, and maybe some injuries from slipped vise-grips or pliers. Another inexpensive purchase would be the "special" tool to remove the shoe holddown pins/spring/retainers. It looks like an oversized nut driver, with window slots in it. You hold the pin (from the back) and press/turn the retainer with it. Makes a tough job easy.

Like above, take the star wheel assy. to a wire wheel and clean the threads and pivot areas. Some light grease or anti-seize on reassembly.

My .02

Originally posted by chester:
I am doing the same thing. The spring on the parking brake strut is trashed and I can not find a new one. The hardware kits contain all the other springs but that :confused: graemlins/angry.gif You might try to find one from an 80's G body car, they have the same size brakes.

Just don't use an air hose or brake cleaner to clean before you start disassembling, Don't want to get that brake dust in your lungs. Use a big plastic brush and soap and water, then rinse and start disassembling. Make sure to do the star wheel adjustment when it's all put back together.To do the adjustment, loosen the wheel so you can fit the drum on, then tighten until you here the shoes rub against the drum a little bit while spinning the drum, the drum should be able to spin freely. I hope your going to resurface the drums too, you want a nice new surface for your new shoes.

Also when installing the shoes you need to have the Primary shoe(the one w/more material)facing toward the driver and the Secondary(Less Material) facing the back of the car. Correct me if I'm wrong guys, I kinda forgot some of this.

Yeah your going to need the drum brake tools too, go to Sears and pick yourself up a "Brake Spring Plier Kit" from Craftsman, 3 pc set, I think there like $30.

I thought the brake shoe with more of the padding went to the rear as that is the shoe that makes contact for the parking brake. Maybe I am wrong though but from what I remember on my dodge charger after doing a rear brake job recently, the larger of the two shoes went towards the rear with the smaller of the two going in the front.

Originally posted by Resq302:
I thought the brake shoe with more of the padding went to the rear as that is the shoe that makes contact for the parking brake. Maybe I am wrong though but from what I remember on my dodge charger after doing a rear brake job recently, the larger of the two shoes went towards the rear with the smaller of the two going in the front. That would be correct! Well, I don't think it's because of the e-brake but the long shoe goes to the rear.

In this pic the assembly on the right is for the passenger side. Note the short shoe goes on the front side, the driver side is opposite.

http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/brakeassy.JPG

Yup that's it, it's all coming back to me