How do you change rear brake shoes and drums on a Ford Taurus - Mercury Sable?

Answer 1

• Remove the axle nut seal cap.
• Remove the axle nut with socket and wrench
• Brake drum should come off
• ** If tight, then remove the brake adjuster dust cover on the inside of the brake drum housing
  • loosen the adjuster with special tool purchase for this activity at any major auto parts store.

Re-install drum in reverse of explanation

To get started on changing rear drum brakes on a 1996-1999 Taurus / Sable, check out Autozone's online Chilton's Repair Manual linked below.

NOTE: Autozone now requires free registration to access the repair guides. More than worth the extra effort for these photo/illustrated instructions.

Getting the drum off

There is no nut holding the rear brake drum on. The drum is simply held on by factory clips and the wheel itself.

To remove the drum, remove the wheel. There may or may not be factory clips on 3 of the lugs / studs, these hold the drum on at the factory and must be removed - if they exist. Twist off with pliers, if they get wrecked, they aren't needed for re-assembly.

Usually the drum will then pull off with a bit of side to side wrangling. If you can hear the brakes rubbing on the drum when turned, or the drum won't come all the way off (there may be a ridge on outer edge of inner drum) you'll have to turn the brake adjuster so the brake shoes are no longer in contact with the drum. On the back of the backing plate, above the axle, there is a rubber plug that a brake spoon can be inserted and turn the shoe adjuster until the shoes no longer touch the drum.

Also, sometimes the center of the drum rusts to the hub so a few whacks with a heavy hammer around the center of the drum to make sure it's loose can't hurt, don't over do it though.

Jack and secure vehicle Remove wheels Make sure Emergency brake is released Remove and discard clips if any on studs Drums should come right off, if not lubricate center hub with WD-40 or similar product and sometimes hitting them with a hammer will loosen them sufficiently to remove If they are really frozen due do either "E" brake dragging or just time, you may have to get a puller to get them off, but drums will probably have to be replaced if this technique is used.

See "Related Links" & Questions for additional information on Taurus brakes.

Remove tire. Remove the clips that are on the lug bolts at the drum. If you break them that is okay they are exactly necessary. The drum should come off. If not then open up the auto-adjuster access in the back of the drum. If is under a rubber rectangular piece. Pull this out. Now use a flat headed screw driver to rotate the adjusting screw up or down. (I never can remember which way is which.) This will back the brake shoes off of the drum so that you can remove it. It doesn't take much.

• Remove the axle nut seal cap.
• Remove the axle nut with socket and wrench
• Brake drum should come off
• ** If tight, then remove the brake adjuster dust cover on the inside of the brake drum housing
  • loosen the adjuster with special tool purchase for this activity at any major auto parts store.

Re-install drum in reverse of explanation

To get started on changing rear drum brakes on a 1996-1999 Taurus / Sable, check out Autozone's online Chilton's Repair Manual linked below.

Jack and secure vehicle Remove wheels Make sure Emergency brake is released Remove and discard clips if any on studs Drums should come right off, if not lubricate center hub with WD-40 or similar product and sometimes hitting them with a hammer will loosen them sufficiently to remove If they are really frozen due do either "E" brake dragging or just time, you may have to get a puller to get them off, but drums will probably have to be replaced if this technique is used.

See "Related Links" & Questions for additional information on Taurus / Sable brakes.

Removing the (stuck) drumCheck the face of the drum to make sure there is not some sort of fastener holding it on. Otherwise, take a hammer or mallet and lightly tap the sides of the drum while pulling on it. If that doesn't work, you may have to release some of tension on the shoes by turning an adjustment wheel that should be accessible from the back side of the assembly. There should be an oblong-shaped slot in the backing plate where you can stick a screwdriver in to turn the adjusting wheel. I have never owned this type of vehicle, but the information comes from my work on vehicles I have owned in the past. Good luck! Getting the drum off

There is no nut holding the rear brake drum on. The drum is simply held on by factory clips and the wheel itself.

To remove the drum, remove the wheel. There may or may not be factory clips on 3 of the lugs / studs, these hold the drum on at the factory and must be removed - if they exist. Twist off with pliers, if they get wrecked, they aren't needed for re-assembly.

Usually the drum will then pull off with a bit of side to side wrangling. If you can hear the brakes rubbing on the drum when turned, or the drum won't come all the way off (there may be a ridge on outer edge of inner drum) you'll have to turn the brake adjuster so the brake shoes are no longer in contact with the drum. On the back of the backing plate, above the axle, there is a rubber plug that a brake spoon can be inserted and turn the shoe adjuster until the shoes no longer touch the drum.

Also, sometimes the center of the drum rusts to the hub so a few whacks with a heavy hammer around the center of the drum to make sure it's loose can't hurt, don't over do it though.

hello I have a 1993 Ford Taurus wagon and the rear drum brakes are similar on most model fords except for the size of shoes and drums and most auto parts stores computer can look up the right size by year and model but bring old parts to compare to make sure to avoid problems,

To remove the old drums first jack car on safe location ,then remove lug nuts, tires. then spray some liquid wrench or wd40 solvent on rusted studs so they sink around the stud drum area holes, let sit for a few minutes and then get a hammer and bank around the drum mildly all the way around and then bank mildly between the studs flat on the drum all the way around. This will loosen the rust and make it easier to get the drums off gently pry the drums off with screwdrivers evenly until the drum is worked off the old shoes. on some flood or nothern cars with water damage a lot of banging may be the key to removing drums. ,

once on the inside of brake area , i first remove the upper cross spring near the adjusters and let it hang and then remove the two side retainer springs and pins that hold the brake pads. THen i can pull the whole assembly over the axel out wards and then on the back of the emergecy brake lever just remove the U shaped retaining clip off the pin and lay the brakes on the ground . Clean the backing plate with a small brush and parts cleaner to remove all comtaminates . Clean off the adjustor for reuse. Reassembly is using a new spring kit match the brake shoes and springs up like the ones that came off , after putting on the new clip on the emergcy brake lever to the brake shoe, fit the shoes in place and relace the two sping and pins that hold the brakes shoes in place , then just make sure the adjustor and sping across it are replaced just like it was removed in the begining. If the drum is damaged, relace it as any scratches will eat of the brakes and make it unsafe . Fit the drums on the shoes and if loose remove and adjust the adjustor out or in until the drum fits without play or binding. you can gage when you are close . Repeate the same for the other side. When you are done check your brake fluid level and drive around going into reverse and backing up a 20 or so feet at a time and then applying brakes to evenly adjust the back brakes with the self adjustors . You are now a lot safer with a strong brake job. Most folks only do the front brake pads so This will make all four brakes work and last a lot longer and be a lot safer for the life of the car. Enjoy you Job it pays off in the time ahead to invist the time now . Thanks The Rocknrollman

See "Related Links" & Questions for additional information on Taurus brakes.