Drum Brake Inspection
WARNING: This page does not describe the selected car, but rather 7 other vehicles, including the 1990 Pontiac Bonneville, 1990 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight, 1990 Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight, 1990 Cadillac Fleetwood, and 1990 Cadillac DeVille. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
- Pull back the wheel cylinder dust boots and check for evidence of leakage. If evidence of leakage is noted, the cylinder should be disassembled, inspected and overhauled.
- Polish the brake support plate ledges with fine emery cloth and inspect them for grooves that could restrict shoe movement. If grooves exist after polishing, the support plate must be replaced. Inspect lining wear pattern. If wear across the width of the lining is uneven, the drums should be checked for distortion, the shoes for correct positioning, and the support plate for distortion.
- Inspect all springs for evidence of overheating and fractures. Self-adjusting cables should be inspected for kinks, fraying, or elongation of the eyelet. Inspect adjuster screws for freedom of rotation, and adjuster lever for wear and distortion.
- Replace defective brake parts.