Emergency Parking Brake Shoe Replacement

(with Rear Disc Brakes)

The emergency hand brake or "e" brake it has been called for short is used to securely hold the car when in the parked position. The parking brake is also designed to stop the car if the hydraulic system of your car's brakes fails. On many of today’s cars with 4-wheel disc brakes, the parking brake has been designed in conjunction with the brake rotor disc. A drum brake is actually cast into the rear of a disc rotor. As a result, you have disc brakes to stop the vehicle and a drum style brake system for the parking brake. It is very similar to the traditional drum brake systems; however, it is smaller and has no wheel cylinder to actuate it. Although it is unusual, the parking brake shoes do need replacement at times.

First Park your car on flat level ground and turn the engine off and the emergency brake off.  Block both sides of the front wheels. Always raise a car according to the manufacturers recommended instructions and secure with jack stands. Also, we will be dealing with brake fluid so be sure to wear protective clothing, eyewear and gloves.

Caution Brake shoes and pads may contain asbestos !
Tools Needed to Complete this Job

1. Dust Mask

2. Brake Cleaner

3. Pliers

4. Screwdriver set

5. Lug wrench

6. Hydraulic Jack

7. Jack Stand

8. Wrench Set

9. Torx socket set

10. Brake spring removal tools

Instructions

Step 1 - With the front wheels blocked on both sides of the wheel, release the parking brake

Step 2 - Remove the hubcap if applicable.

Step 3 - With the vehicle still on the ground, loosen each lug nut on the wheel to be serviced ¾ of a turn.

Step 4 - With a jack, lift the vehicle as instructed by the manufacturer, until the wheel(s) being serviced are off the ground.

Step 5 - Place a jack stand on the vehicle’s frame or manufacturer’s recommended location and lower the jack until all weight is on the jack stand. Make sure the tire is still off the ground.

Step 6 - Remove the lug nuts and remove the wheel assembly. Now you have exposed the calliper and rotor

Step 7 - Using the proper wrench, remove the brake calliper from the mounting assembly. Use mechanics wire to tie the calliper to the underside of the vehicle so its weight doesn’t hang on the rubber brake hose for this can cause damage to the hose.

Step 8 - To remove the brake rotor, you may need to lower the parking brake shoes. This is done from the rear of the backing plate.

Step 9 - On the rear of the backing plate, you will find a rubber plug. Remove the plug.

Step 10 - Using a flashlight, look into the backing plate and locate the star shaped adjusting wheel. With a straight edge screwdriver, turn the screw to loosen the brake shoes inward and away from the drum.

Step 11 - Once loosened, remove the brake rotor-drum assembly. You may need to tap the rotor with a hammer on the mounting flange between the wheel studs to loosen the rust between the rotor and axle flange.

Step 12 - On most vehicle's, you will find a long retainer spring from one shoe to the other, a brake shoe strut at the top which is attached to the brake cable, a round brake shoe retainer on each brake shoe, and the star shaped adjuster at the bottom. Using pliers or a brake spring removal tool, remove the brake spring that attaches between the two brake shoes. At this point the adjuster will come off too. Notice the positioning of the adjuster for replacement and make sure the adjuster is clean and lubricated for smooth operation.

Step 13 - With pliers or removal tool, remove the round retainer from each brake shoe by pushing in and turning the retainer and remove the brake shoes. (Note: pay attention to how the brake shoe strut is positioned for replacement.

Step 14 - Reverse the procedure to install emergency brake shoe replacement.

Step 15 - The parking brake shoes may need a manual adjustment once the rotor is re-installed. Allow approximately 2/32 if an inch space between the drum’s ID and the brake shoes. We also recommend that once the work is complete, check parking brake operation and manually adjust, if needed, by turning the star shaped adjuster from the rear of the backing plate.

Step 16 - Adjust the parking brake by tightening the star adjuster wheel. You do not want the shoes to actually touch the drum. It will cause overheating. The parking brake is an important safety component. Most parking brakes are self-adjusting but if the parking brake pedal seems to be low or the brake doesn’t hold the vehicle, make sure to adjust it as necessary.

CAUTION: Brake material can contain asbestos. Avoid using pressurized air or other device that can cause brake dust to become air born. Also, always wear safety glasses to protect your eyes and a dust mask to eliminate dust from getting into your lungs. Also, never trust only a hydraulic jack to hold the vehicle. Make sure the vehicle is in a flat firm surface and use quality jack stands to safely hold the vehicle’s weight.