dismantling drum brakes

[leoo24]

Hi guys


ok so i've got a mechanical surge brake system, which basically pulls on the brake cable, ofcourse pulling the brakes..

so it's got a lot of surface rust, i took a screwdriver to it and there's metal straight away, no flakes at all, just surface rust.

before i get stuck in, i didn't find any literature about mechanical drum breaks, only hydraulic, so i want to check how to go about it...

from the attached images you can see the brake cable going in the back, and the drum brakes. I need to change brake cables. So i first take good note, and photos of everything and take the springs out, there's an oblong nut on the left, which seems to release the arms. in theory would that give me access to whatever the brake cable connects to?

i know i can change the drum etc etc, should the backplate come off the torsion suspension to change the entire lot?

thanks guys

 

[Silvertip]

Re: dismantling drum brakes

The entire brake assembly is held to a flange on the swing arm of the torsion suspension with four bolts. Remove those bolts and te entire mess should fall off. If you are replacing the entire system I would certainly lean toward a hydraulic system. That of course means the actuator at the coupler would need to be replaced as well in addition to running hydrulic lines to the wheels. You would end up with a much better system but then all of that depends on how much weight you are towing and what you are towing it with.

 

[leoo24]

Re: dismantling drum brakes

Thanks silvertip,

boat weight is 3500 pounds and car is only 1.9 dci 80hp rated towing capacity of 4500 pounds, but hydrualic systems here (spain) will be really, really expensive. I only travel to my local ramp, 4-5km max, i never travel long distances so i don't think i could justify the expense of a new system really.

are the four bolts on the back or should i be going through all the mess to get to them hehe

thanks

 

[Silvertip]

Re: dismantling drum brakes

You should see the four bolts when looking at the spindle. The bolts will have nuts on the back side of the swing arm, or the swing arm itself will have tapped holes so no nuts would be required. It may also be possible that the backing plate is riveted to the swing arm. In that case you will have to drill out the rivets.

 

[leoo24]

Re: dismantling drum brakes

thanks silvertip,

no nuts so must be rivets but the rust didn't let me see too well, so i'm gonna give it a good clean tomorrow and see what's what

cheers

 

[Silvertip]

Re: dismantling drum brakes

The bolt heads on the outer side of the brake backing plate may be very flat with thin heads and if rust covered may be easy to overlook. Never-the-less, there will need to be nuts on the back side. If this assembly is actually riveted, You could tap the swing arm or drill out the holes to accept bolts and nuts. Just use high grade bolts and nuts.