Brake Drums
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2007 Mercury Mariner and 2007 Ford Escape. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
CAUTION:
Manual adjustment of the rear brake drum assemblies should only be done when new rear brake shoes are installed, new drums are installed, or existing drums are machined. If the rear brake drum assembly is not adjusted correctly, brake drag, grab, lock, overheating and fade may occur.
- Remove the brake drum. Refer to DRUM BRAKE article.
- Inspect the brake drum and measure the brake drum inside diameter in a minimum of 4 places around the circumference of the brake drum. Record the measurements.
- Install a new brake drum if any diameter measurement is greater than the maximum specification. Refer to DRUM BRAKE article.
- Install a new brake drum if cracked. Refer to DRUM BRAKE article.
- Heavily scored brake drums, similar to that caused by shoes worn down to the backing plate, should be machined. In order to machine, drums must be below the maximum diameter specification. Refer to DRUM BRAKE article.