Auto Brakes

Volkswagen Jettas equipped with rear disc brakes have a rotor mounted on the rear axle hub. The surface of the rotor will wear with use, and periodically it will need to be replaced. In some...

The rear brake drum on a Chevy is a large, cast iron cover that fits over the wheel hub. The brake shoes on the hub push against the inside of the drum causing the drum and the hub assembly to...

Older model Ford vehicles use brake drums on the rear axle (models built before the late 1960s may also have brake drums on the front axle). A brake drum system works by mounting a large steel or...

The rear brakes on the Chevy Silverado have evolved over the years. Beginning with a drum brake system, in 2003 General Motors switched to a disc brake system that utilized a "Drum In Hat" style...

The Ford Econoline van series, also known as the E-Series van, is featured in three different sizes; half-ton, three-quarter ton and 1 ton. Rear drum brakes used to come standard on the older...

Drum brake pads are more popularly known as brake shoes. Before the introduction of disc brakes, drum brakes were featured on both the front and rear axles of vehicles. Because disc brakes are...

Many automobiles use rear drum brakes because they are easier to change than rear disc brakes. They only perform a small part of the total braking of the vehicle due to inertia so they don't need...

Your car brake system provides a mechanical means through the emergency brakes to stop your vehicle when the regular brakes fail on the road or to keep the car from moving when parked. Apply the...

The exact type of rear brakes can vary on cars. Some cars have brake calipers and pads like the front wheels, most use brake drums and shoes that work with the parking brake, and others use both....

A proportional valve is a vital component of all automobiles and trucks, allowing them to stop properly. When a vehicle is in motion, it generates momentum, which must be overcome if a vehicle is...

The Ford Crown Victoria is one of the longest-tenured vehicles in the history of Ford Motor Co. It has featured rear disc brakes since the early 1980s, though the car also has been available with...

Although the front disc brakes on the Subaru Legacy provide 75 percent braking for the vehicle, it's not uncommon for the rear pads to wear quickly. One of the main reasons is because they're...

Rear disc brakes are becoming more and more popular on cars and light trucks. They feature rear rotors, calipers and brake pads. Rear disc brakes work better than drum brakes and require no...

Vehicles with rear drum brakes will often need adjusting to maintain braking power. For Hondas this adjustment is done automatically. When the brake shoes inside the drum brake wear down, they...

The rear brakes on most cars use drums with brake shoes that work with the parking brake. Installing rear brake shoes is more difficult than front brake pads, because the assembly involves...

The rear brakes on Hyundai vehicles are self-adjusting. This means that the rear brakes will adjust over time as you use them. However, a manual adjustment can and should be done initially to...

Honda automobiles are manufactured with rear disc brakes on some models. This hydraulic caliper, rotor and pad system can wear out and require the replacement of some parts to function correctly....

Vibration in the steering wheel during braking is a clear indication that the brakes on a Ford Focus need servicing, but the rear brakes do far less work than the front brakes, so it may not be...

The rear brake pads on an Audi A6 use a caliper and rotor design for maximum clamping power. However, the downside to increased performance is increased wear and tear. You will need to check the...

The Dodge Ram pickup truck series is manufactured with rear disc brakes, using hydraulically actuated calipers and pad/rotor friction surfaces. The rotor part of the system may become warped or...

The 1969 Ford F-series Camper Special was manufactured with a hydraulic rear drum braking system that requires routine maintenance. The drum material can thin over time and must be replaced to...

The Chevrolet Nova was in production from 1962 to 1979, with models produced from 1962-1968 known as the Chevy II Nova. These vehicles were equipped from the factory with rear drum brakes. Drum...

The rear brakes on a 2000 Honda Accord use a caliper and piston design to apply brake pressure. You'll need a special brake tool to compress the piston on the rear caliper. This tool is available...

The brake shoes on a Mazda only do 25 percent of the work in the braking system. This is because the shoes push against the brake drum, causing the wheel to slow down. Over time, however, even...

The rear brakes on the Ford Zx2 will only need adjustment after you change the brake shoes. The drums contain a self-adjuster. However, you can manually adjust the rear brakes to speed up the...

The rear brakes on a Ford ZX2 need to be adjusted only after the brake shoes have been replaced. Fortunately, the rear brakes on a Ford ZX2 are self-adjusting. However, there are a few things you...

Chevrolet rear brakes use hydraulic calipers and friction pads, on most late models, that can deteriorate. The pads are a semi-metallic or ceramic material designed to thin over time, requiring...

The Saturn line of automobiles is manufactured with rear disk brakes which contain routine maintenance parts that must be replaced at regular intervals. The rear disk brake pads have a friction...

An emergency brake, or parking brake, on a Volkswagen Jetta is used to take stress off the transmission while the vehicle is parked, and as a fail-safe in the event of a major failure of the...

The Ford Escort ZX2, also known simply as the "ZX2," was a sport model of the popular Ford Escort. The rear braking system on the ZX2 uses an iron brake drum with a machined surface. Brake shoes...

The most common problem with Chevy brake systems is worn brake shoes and pads. The brake pads are designed to be wearable parts which must be replaced periodically to ensure proper brake function....

The Chevy Cavalier was introduced by General Motors in 1982 as its premiere compact car. Despite a few generational redesigns, the braking system on the Cavalier remained virtually unchanged. The...

Drum brakes on a Mazda Protege use a large drum instead of a caliper to slow down the rear wheels. The drum pushes a brake shoe against the drum, causing friction. This friction slows the drum,...

The Chevy Cavalier uses rear brake shoes instead of a caliper and brake pad design for the rear wheels. Brake drums are easier to maintain than caliper assemblies, but they do not have the...

Once automobiles employed front and rear drum brakes. Because disc brakes are more effective, they replaced front drum brakes. Many vehicles still feature rear drum brakes, but all vehicles...

Removing rear drum brakes for replacement is considerably different than doing so for disc brakes. Rear drum brakes use brake shoes rather than pads, which mainly work with the parking brake....

Rear brake lines on most vehicles are connected to the rubber brake line running to the brake caliper via a tube nut. On the other end of the line is another tube nut connecting the brake line to...

Shortly after the release of the Ford 500 in 2005, a technical service bulletin was released on the rear brakes. Caliper piston problems and premature rear brake pads wear caused by dragging...

Brake drums are used on many vehicles today as rear brakes. They are easier to service and somewhat cheaper to manufacture and provide enough stopping power in proportion to the load being placed...

The parking or emergency brake is actuated by a cable that spans between the parking brake handle or pedal and the rear brake drums. Over time, the cable can stretch beyond adjustment, and under...

Under normal conditions--and when adjusted properly--rear brake shoes will last two to three times longer than the front pads. This is because the proportioning valve applies 60 percent of the...

The brake pads on your Ford Expedition require replacement at regular intervals. Every 12 months, or before if necessary, you need to check the lining on the brake pads. This lining contains...

The Saturn Ion was manufactured by GM Motors from 2003 through 2007. It replaced the S-series Saturns, and was eventually replaced by the Saturn Astra. The Ion was available as a four-door sedan...

Ford Freestar rear brakes are rotor-style brakes that work similarly to the Freestar's front brake setup. When you step on the pedal, hydraulic fluid is forced through steel brake lines to the...

Although rear disc brakes only provide 25% braking capacity for a vehicle, the pads are smaller and thinner than front disc brake pads. Rear disc brakes can provide more consistent braking power...

Rear brake pads, called "brake shoes," are used on vehicles equipped with drum brakes in the rear of the vehicle. A drum brake consists of a steel housing (a drum) and pads (brake shoes). When you...

Since disc brakes in a truck cannot be adjusted, it's important that rear drum brakes be adjusted regularly. The rear drum brakes on a truck provide only 25 percent braking capacity if properly...

Though it may seem like a big job, changing the brake rotors on your Toyota Land Cruiser can be done fairly easily. If you have all of the necessary tools and replacement parts, you can complete...

There are no new Ford Falcons rolling off the assembly line, so if you're a fan of this make, you've got to treat yours with the utmost care. An important part of maintenance involves checking the...

The Honda Accord uses disc brakes on the front wheels and drum brakes on the rear ones. The disc brakes use pads that need to be changed at 60,000 miles at the latest. The drum brakes use shoes...