dppdaddyyo
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Just need to know what tools I need if any special and precaution I should take with springs
how do you replace the rear brake shoes on a 1997 sunfire
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EaOutlaw
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Your car is a 1997 replace the springs while you have the brakes apart they come in a hardware kit.
When you have the rear brakes apart pull back on each dust boot of each wheel cylinder if you see any moisture ( brake fluid ) behind the dust boot rebuild or replace the rear wheel cylinders.
With the age of the car if they are original it would be best to rebuild or replace them anyways.
With this kit and basic hand tools you should be able to replace and adjust your rear brake shoes. most of the tools in the kit are outdated yet for 20 bucks is well worth having in your tool box.
http://www.harborfreight.com/7-piece-brake-tool-set-188.html
once you get the rear wheels and drums off take pictures of what each side looks like and label the pictures.
Clean both sides with plenty of non flammable brake cleaner before you take the pictures and before you do any work.
you will want to replace one side at a time. making sure the work matches the pictures.
When looking at the backing plate with the old shoes mounted you will notice the rear shoe closest to the rear bumper will have a larger brake lining surface, make sure you separate the shoes accordingly and install them like this.
Once you have the shoes off and if your going to change the rear wheel cylinders clean the backing plate perfectly. once the backing plate is dry lubricate each friction point with a little grey anti seize.
Unscrew the self adjuster and take it apart completely, cleaning the threads inside and out with a wire brush and rolled up paper towel, once perfectly clean and dry, lubricate the first inch of threads and screw it back together. You do not need a lot of anti seize for any of this a little goes a long way.
Make sure during reassembly keep your hands clean, I use disposable gloves and change them often. Your brakes cannot be too clean so make sure to clean everything you have to reuse the best you can.
I can not stress this enough you cannot get your brakes too clean, so when your done if you get any dirt grease or anti seize on the brake linings spray a little brake clean on a paper towel and carefully wipe while rolling the towel trying not to rub the contaminants of the brake lining.
do not just spray the linings with brake clean you may wash off the backing plate anti seize.
When your trying to reinstall the shoes make sure to back off on the self adjuster all the way making it as short as possible this will make it easier to install the springs.
here is a few videos I found on replacing rear shoes yet I am not sure they match what is on your car. I did not watch either video in it entirety so I can only tell you these are videos on how they did the work these are not how you should do the the brake job.
Anyone that removes or install brake springs with vise grips or pliers may have lots of experience doing it like this and they are the ones risking having the springs brake down the road.
I advise using the right tools for the job.
I may add that being that this is your first time, you may consider removing the hub assembly it is only held in place with 4 bolts. then reinstall the bolts and backing plate with extra washers if needed to make up for the missing hub.
this way you can see all the moving parts and you will have a little extra room for your work.
on one of the videos they show removing the shoe with the parking brake lever by getting help from a second person.
This part is not necessary, the part they needed to get off is a u clip crush type fastener.
This can be removed on the car with straight blade screw driver by jamming it in between the slot and twisting the the u clip apart.
Once it is spread apart enough you can normally stick the screwdriver in top of the metal stud and pry out the u clip washer.
or just bend one end of the clip away from the pad and use a pair of side cutters and grip the clip and twist it out.
The hardware kit comes with new clips so make sure you have new ones before starting this job. you can sometimes get these out without destroying them if your patient yet it is best to replace them.
https://youtu.be/_IGCz0ArJiQ
https://youtu.be/OT-RMwxBC0E
https://youtu.be/C3Fb7jRJNt8
When you have the rear brakes apart pull back on each dust boot of each wheel cylinder if you see any moisture ( brake fluid ) behind the dust boot rebuild or replace the rear wheel cylinders.
With the age of the car if they are original it would be best to rebuild or replace them anyways.
With this kit and basic hand tools you should be able to replace and adjust your rear brake shoes. most of the tools in the kit are outdated yet for 20 bucks is well worth having in your tool box.
http://www.harborfreight.com/7-piece-brake-tool-set-188.html
once you get the rear wheels and drums off take pictures of what each side looks like and label the pictures.
Clean both sides with plenty of non flammable brake cleaner before you take the pictures and before you do any work.
you will want to replace one side at a time. making sure the work matches the pictures.
When looking at the backing plate with the old shoes mounted you will notice the rear shoe closest to the rear bumper will have a larger brake lining surface, make sure you separate the shoes accordingly and install them like this.
Once you have the shoes off and if your going to change the rear wheel cylinders clean the backing plate perfectly. once the backing plate is dry lubricate each friction point with a little grey anti seize.
Unscrew the self adjuster and take it apart completely, cleaning the threads inside and out with a wire brush and rolled up paper towel, once perfectly clean and dry, lubricate the first inch of threads and screw it back together. You do not need a lot of anti seize for any of this a little goes a long way.
Make sure during reassembly keep your hands clean, I use disposable gloves and change them often. Your brakes cannot be too clean so make sure to clean everything you have to reuse the best you can.
I can not stress this enough you cannot get your brakes too clean, so when your done if you get any dirt grease or anti seize on the brake linings spray a little brake clean on a paper towel and carefully wipe while rolling the towel trying not to rub the contaminants of the brake lining.
do not just spray the linings with brake clean you may wash off the backing plate anti seize.
When your trying to reinstall the shoes make sure to back off on the self adjuster all the way making it as short as possible this will make it easier to install the springs.
here is a few videos I found on replacing rear shoes yet I am not sure they match what is on your car. I did not watch either video in it entirety so I can only tell you these are videos on how they did the work these are not how you should do the the brake job.
Anyone that removes or install brake springs with vise grips or pliers may have lots of experience doing it like this and they are the ones risking having the springs brake down the road.
I advise using the right tools for the job.
I may add that being that this is your first time, you may consider removing the hub assembly it is only held in place with 4 bolts. then reinstall the bolts and backing plate with extra washers if needed to make up for the missing hub.
this way you can see all the moving parts and you will have a little extra room for your work.
on one of the videos they show removing the shoe with the parking brake lever by getting help from a second person.
This part is not necessary, the part they needed to get off is a u clip crush type fastener.
This can be removed on the car with straight blade screw driver by jamming it in between the slot and twisting the the u clip apart.
Once it is spread apart enough you can normally stick the screwdriver in top of the metal stud and pry out the u clip washer.
or just bend one end of the clip away from the pad and use a pair of side cutters and grip the clip and twist it out.
The hardware kit comes with new clips so make sure you have new ones before starting this job. you can sometimes get these out without destroying them if your patient yet it is best to replace them.
https://youtu.be/_IGCz0ArJiQ
https://youtu.be/OT-RMwxBC0E
https://youtu.be/C3Fb7jRJNt8