How do you remove and install brake shoes on a 1989 4 cylinder Chevrolet Cavalier?

Answer 1

With brake shoes and a spring kit in hand, jack up rear of car - pick a side to do first. Remove wheel. Remove brake drum. If this is too tight to work side to side pulling toward you, you will need to back the brake adjusters star nut off a few turns. This can be done by looking behind the drum at the backing plate and finding the small rubber plug somewhat oval shaped - it may be gone - looking inside the star nut will have a thin flat piece touching it from behind under spring pressure. Push this away from you and turn the nut up or down - one of the directions will loosen the shoes and allow drum removal. This is a tedious task. With drum removed assemble parts in front of you so that you have the proper parts for each side separated.SPRAY AREA WITH BRAKE CLEANER BEFORE STARTING ANY WORK. Begin by removing the caps that hold the springs, with large slip joint pliers push the cap away from you and turn. The "nails" that hold the assy have a flat on them this needs to slide thru the the caps slot - you will see this and know what to do - you will be working against spring pressure so push hard and be careful. make a diagram of what went where or remember carefully the order of disassembly. match up spring sizes and sides as they MUST be correct. Wire brush the threds of the brake adjuster assy and shaft lubricate with white lithium grease - sparingly - also lubricate "rub" points of shoes against backing plate, these points will be indicated by wear areas. If brake cylinders leak fluid replace them now in PAIRS ONLY!, they are removed by two bolts on the backing plate. remove brake line, install cylinders as they were removed. Keeping oil and grease off the friction side of the shoes, re-assemble new parts. Brake drum honing may need to be done if surface is gouged or pitted, if not use as is. set adjusters so there is very slight contact with drums as they are put on. Brake system will now need to be bled of air. do this with help, push brake pedal slowly to floor, carefully open bleeder screw - cover face at this point or you'll get a face full of brake fluid!! - close screw, THEN let brake pedal up. repeat until fluid is clear - remember to check fluid level in master cylinder reservoir, do not allow to go below low mark. take up slack in adjusters by slowly pulling E-brake up to tight and releasing several times, you might hear the springs and star nut "talking" to you this is fine. with this done you're done. Drive it, pedal feel is now firm and should now need less pressure to get more stopping power.