How to Install Brake Shoes on a 1997 Saturn

Saturn recommends inspecting the lining on the brakes every 6,000 miles (9,600 km) and replacing the brake shoes when worn down to 3/32-inches (2.4mm). However, you also must replace the brake shoes during your maintenance schedule if you find that the lining is peeling, cracking or is contaminated with brake fluid or grease. When ready to install the new shoes, always leave one brake assembly as reference to make sure you reinstall the different components in their correct place.

Things You'll Need

• Lug wrench
• Floor jack
• 2 Jack stands
• Brake adjusting tool
• Brake spring tool
• Hold-down spring tool
• Needle-nose pliers
• Brake parts cleaner
• Lint-free towels
• Brake grease

Instructions

Removing the Brake Shoes

1. Set your transmission to "Neutral" and loosen the lug nuts on both rear wheel assemblies, using a lug wrench.

2. Raise the rear of your Saturn, using a floor jack, and place a jack stand under the frame, near the rear wheels.

3. Remove the rear wheels and the brake drums. If the brake shoes are holding the drums in place, insert a brake adjusting tool through the access hole in the backing plate, then turn the start wheel on the brake adjuster with the brake adjuster tool to retract the shoes.

4. Disengage the lower return spring and the upper adjuster spring from the brake shoes, using a brake spring tool. Work on one side at a time and use the opposite brake assembly as a visual reference.

5. Depress the hold-down spring at the center of the leading shoe (the one pointing to the front side of the car), using a hold-down spring tool. From behind the backing plate, rotate the hold-down pin about 45 degrees to disengage the pin, then remove the pin and hold-down spring.

6. Pull the leading shoe off the brake assembly, towards the front of the vehicle, and remove the brake adjuster assembly from the top side of the shoe.

7. Remove the leading shoe from the assembly.

8. Depress the hold-down spring at the center of the parking brake shoe (the one pointing to the rear side of the car), using the hold-down spring tool. From behind the backing plate, rotate the hold-down pin about 45 degrees to disengage the pin, then remove the pin and hold-down spring.

9. Lift the parking brake shoe off the backing plate and disengage the parking brake cable from the parking brake lever attached to the parking brake shoe. Use a pair of needle-nose pliers.

10. Detach the retainer and washer holding the parking brake lever to the parking brake shoe, then remove the lever from the shoe, using the needle-nose pliers.

11. Clean the brake adjuster assembly and the backing plate with brake parts cleaner and wipe all lining dust with lint-free towels.

Installing the New Brake Shoes

1. Lubricate (with brake grease) the brake adjuster assembly at the point where it comes in contact with the parking brake bracket, as well as the backing plate raised contact points. Be careful not to get any grease on the brake shoe lining.

2. Install the parking brake lever to the parking brake shoe, using the needle-nose pliers.

3. Engage the parking brake cable to the parking brake lever, using the needle-nose pliers.

4. Set the parking brake shoe in place on the backing plate and install the hold-down spring and pin, using the hold-down spring tool.

5. Set the new leading shoe in place on the backing plate.

6. Install the brake adjuster assembly as you hold the leading shoe in place.

7. Install the leading-shoe hold-down spring and pin, using the hold-down spring tool.

8. Engage the upper adjuster spring and lower return spring to the brake shoes, using the brake spring tool.

9. Replace the brake shoes on the opposite brake assembly following step 4 from the previous section through step 8 of this section.

10. Install and rotate the brake drum by hand. The drum should drag slightly against the brake shoes. If not, adjust the shoes by rotating the star wheel on the brake adjuster with the brake adjusting tool.

11. Mount the rear wheels and install the lug nuts snugly, using the lug wrench.

12. Lower the vehicle using the floor jack and tighten the lug nuts, using the lug wrench.

13. Depress the brake pedal several times to adjust the brake shoes and then set the parking brake.

References

• "Saturn S-series Automotive Repair Manual"; Mark Ryan and John H. Haynes; 2003