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Drum Brake System

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2003 Buick Regal, 2003 Buick Century, 2002 Buick Regal, and 2002 Buick Century. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
  1. Were you sent here from a SYMPTOMS test under TROUBLE SHOOTING? If so, go to next step. If not, go to DIAGNOSTIC STARTING POINT - HYDRAULIC BRAKES  under TROUBLE SHOOTING.
  2. Remove the brake drums. See BRAKE DRUM  under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Inspect the drum brake shoes for the following conditions:
    • Lining thickness below specifications.
    • Uneven and/or abnormal wear - edge-to-edge and/or side-to-side.
    • Contamination from an external substance.
    • Looseness, damage, glazing, or incorrect lining material.
    Did you find any conditions to indicate a concern with any of the drum brake shoes? If so, go to next step. If not, go to step  7 .
  3. Are any of the brake shoes contaminated? If so, go to next step. If not, go to step  5 .
  4. Inspect the wheel cylinders for evidence of an external brake fluid leak. Replace any wheel cylinder that is found to be leaking brake fluid. See WHEEL CYLINDER  under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Did you complete the inspection and replacement? If so, go to step  6 .
  5. Inspect the drum brake hardware for any components which are worn, damaged, discolored due to stress, broken or missing. See DRUM HARDWARE INSPECTION  under PARK BRAKE in ADJUSTMENTS & INSPECTIONS. Replace components as required. See DRUM BRAKE HARDWARE  under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Replace the drum brake shoes. See BRAKE SHOE  under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Did you complete the inspection and replacement? If so, go to step  8 .
  6. Clean the remaining drum brake system components to remove any traces of the contaminant. Inspect the drum brake hardware for any components which are worn, damaged, discolored due to stress, broken or missing. See DRUM HARDWARE INSPECTION  under PARK BRAKE in ADJUSTMENTS & INSPECTIONS. Replace the drum brake hardware components as required. See DRUM BRAKE HARDWARE  under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Replace the contaminated brake shoes. See BRAKE SHOE  under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Did you complete the cleaning, inspection and replacement? If so, go to step  8 .
  7. Inspect the drum brake hardware for any components which are worn, damaged, discolored due to stress, broken or missing. See DRUM HARDWARE INSPECTION  under PARK BRAKE in ADJUSTMENTS & INSPECTIONS. Replace components as required. See DRUM BRAKE HARDWARE  under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. Did you complete the inspection and, if necessary, the replacement? If so, go to next step.
  8. Check the diameter of each of the brake drums. Make a determination for each brake drum if the drum can be REFINISHED and REMAIN ABOVE the minimum requirements. See DRUM DIAMETER MEASUREMENT  under DRUM BRAKES in ADJUSTMENTS & INSPECTIONS. Does the brake drum meet the minimum requirements for refinishing? If so, go to next step. If not, go to step  11 .
  9. Inspect each of the brake drums for the following Braking Surface Conditions:
    • Heavy Rust And/Or Pitting
    • Cracks And/Or Heat Spots
    • Excessive Blueing Discoloration
    • Missing Balance Weights
    Braking Surface Wear Conditions:
    • Deep or excessive scoring beyond maximum acceptable level.
    • Radial runout beyond maximum acceptable level.
    Make a determination for each brake drum if the drum requires refinishing based upon the results of the inspection. If the brake drum exhibits any of the following conditions, it requires refinishing:
    • Drum exhibits one or more of the Braking Surface Conditions listed previously.
    • Drum is beyond the acceptable level in one or more of the Braking Surface Wear Conditions listed previously.
    Does the brake drum require refinishing? If so, go to next step. If not, go to step  14 .
  10. Refinish the brake drum. See BRAKE DRUM REFINISHING  under SERVICING. Inspect the brake drum diameter. See DRUM DIAMETER MEASUREMENT  under DRUM BRAKES in ADJUSTMENTS & INSPECTIONS. Were you able to refinish the brake drum within the minimum requirements? If so, go to step  14 . If not, go to step  13 .
  11. Is the brake drum at or below the discard requirements? If so, go to step  14 . If not, go to next step
  12. Inspect each of the brake drums for the following Braking Surface Conditions:
    • Heavy Rust And/Or Pitting
    • Cracks And/Or Heat Spots
    • Excessive Blueing Discoloration
    • Missing Balance Weights
    Braking Surface Wear Conditions:
    • Deep or excessive scoring beyond maximum acceptable level.
    • Radial runout beyond maximum acceptable level.
    Make a determination for each brake drum if the drum requires replacement based upon the results of the inspection. If a brake drum exhibits any of the following conditions, it requires replacement:
    • Drum exhibits one or more of the Braking Surface Conditions listed previously.
    • Drum is beyond the acceptable level in one or more of the Braking Surface Wear Conditions listed previously.
    Does the brake drum require replacement? If so, go to next step. If not, go to step  14 .
  13. Replace the brake drum. See BRAKE DRUM  under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. After repairs are complete, go to next step.
  14. Inspect the brake shoes for proper adjustment. See DRUM BRAKE ADJUSTMENT  under DRUM BRAKES in ADJUSTMENTS & INSPECTIONS. Are the brake shoes adjusted properly? If so, go to step  18 . If not, go to next step.
  15. Inspect the components of the brake drum adjustment hardware system for free movement and correct operation. See DRUM ADJUSTING HARDWARE INSPECTION  under DRUM BRAKES in ADJUSTMENTS & INSPECTIONS. Do the drum brake adjusting hardware components operate freely and correctly? If so, go to step  17 . If not, go to next step.
  16. Replace the drum brake adjusting hardware components as necessary. See DRUM BRAKE HARDWARE  under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. After repairs are complete, go to next step.
  17. Adjust the drum brake shoes. See DRUM BRAKE ADJUSTMENT  under DRUM BRAKES in ADJUSTMENTS & INSPECTIONS. After repairs are complete, go to step  20 .
    18. NOTE: Drum brake backing plates that come in contact with brake drums may cause brake system noise.
  18. Inspect the drum brake backing plate for the following:
    • Excessive Wear Or Rust
    • Damage And/Or Evidence Of Contact With The Brake Drum
    Does the drum brake backing plate exhibit any of these conditions? Go to next step. If not, go to step  20 .
  19. Repair or replace the drum brake backing plate as necessary. See BACKING PLATE REPLACEMENT  under REMOVAL & INSTALLATION. After repairs are complete, go to next step.
  20. Install or connect components that were removed or disconnected during diagnosis. Did you complete the operation? If so, system okay. If not, go to step  2 .
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