drum brakes rant

SS Shaun · #1 07-04-2012, 04:58 PM

Who said drum brakes are easy? So angering just spent an hour redoing it since i was told it was on backward! Still have the other side to do screw that done for the day! And on top of that they gave me the wrong drums! Double angering!

carpoor · #2 07-04-2012, 06:05 PM

When I was 16, I had a 89' LX 5.0 mustang. When it came time to do brakes, I did the fronts by myself no problem. My father told me to pay attention - slowly took them apart, explaining as he went. He cleaned everything, installed the new parts. Then said - "Were you paying attention?" He then proceeded to take it back apart and walk away. I have had no problem assembling drum brakes since. I knew if I didn't figure it out - I'd be walking until I did. That was 17 years ago. I will admit that they can be a pain at times. Be sure to bring plenty of patience along with the parts & tools for the job.

Ms Grumpy · #3 07-04-2012, 06:10 PM

Sometimes it really stinks when the people at the auto parts store give us the wrong parts. Has happened many times to me also, and I am sure it will happen again. Hope you get your brakes done soon Shaun.

SS Shaun · #4 07-04-2012, 07:55 PM

I had an easier time swapping my ls1 in my rx7 then doing these brakes

shadowgray396 · #5 07-04-2012, 10:55 PM

Sorry to hear you had so much trouble, the first thing I do is have pictures on hand before I start any project on my car. Makes life much easier.

SS Shaun · #6 07-04-2012, 11:10 PM

yeah i had the pictures and everything just getting all those springs to line up killed me! i guess i should of left them backwards! so now i have one side in correctly and the other side is in backwards. I didnt even want to look at the other side once i got that one done. i was so angry i didnt even know what to do with myself! i cleaned off ate something and jumped in the pool! i needed to cool off. it took a major toll on me today and dreading doing the other side tomorrow. i really want to get my car off the jack stand and tires back on. but i think i am going to just replace the shocks tomorrow and see how i feel about taking the other side apart just yet. Like i told my wife and my uncle i had an easier time doing a motor swap in my rx7 then i did with that drum brake! took me 75 mins to get the ls1 in my rx7 took me 90 to change the drum brakes! only one side! forget that! i already told my wife on her daily driver when her drums go the shop is doing it because i am not touching it. i made it a point to buy all of my cars with 4 wheel drive disc brakes and she fell in love with that car nothing i could do about it. but for me i will never own another car with drum brakes!