Reassembly Process – Brake Job

The process of reassembly of the brake components is an important step in having a safe, efficient, and long lasting brake. One of the first issues you need to address is the selection of the correct lining to meet your needs. Many things go into the selection of brake lining. The axle weight ratings, the type of driving and original lining spec from the manufacture all play a part in selecting the correct lining for your application. Choosing a lining based on price will almost always lead to poor brake performance, increase brake noise and increase vehicle operation cost.

  • Always replace all shoe attaching components including anchor pins bushing, cam bushings, return springs and rollers. Always use correct kits for your style shoe application.
  • Lubrication is important but lubrication in the right spot is critical. Lubricate the anchor pins and only the shoulder of the roller (NEVER the face of the roller). Use the correct lubricant such as high temp disc brake lube (not high temp or general purpose lube grease).
  • Make sure you use the correct shoe style for your application ( Q shoes to Q+ upgrade requires upgrade to Q+ cam shafts)
  • Select the new drums for your application and DO NOT MIX light duty drums with heavy duty drums. Choose the right type drum for your application.
  • If replacing seals and bearings, make sue to follow the installation procedures for that manufacture and guideline for bearing preload and final torque.
  • Adjust ALL slack adjusters to spec for that manufacture. Remember, you will be adjusting the lining to run as close to the drum as you can without dragging. The use tothe proper brake components and the best quality components will always make this process easier. Manual adjusters should be set to .015 clearance and auto-adjustors at .018-.025. Proper stroke should fall around 5/8 to ¾ in.
  • Remember to inspect ALL brake related components for issues such as leaks or wear. If you have replaced of fixed any component be sure to check for proper operation and that you have replaced the component with the properly size and functioning component. Check to make sure you have not mixed or mismatched components such as brake chambers. NEVER mix std and long stroke chambers.
  • Follow the correct “burnishing” procedure when doing your brake operational testing. Once you have done the road test, be sure to return to the shop and re-inspect ALL components for any problems. Recheck your stroke measurement as they should all be the same length and as some auto-slacks will not reach their final stroke until the linings are burnished in and components are subjected to a heat cycle.

Doing the brake job right involves doing the correct process and paying attention to the small stuff. Choosing the correct lining and using quality components may cost a little more at the start but will save you money in the long run thru safer brake performance, higher brake performance and longer brake life, not to mention less maintenance hours.