Does the rear brake shoes adjust by reversing and braking or just using the parking brake. 2011 honda fit. They are working but not wearing down at all. 180 000 kilometers and still can see the full letters on the side from factory shoes. What is a recommended limit for them to be changed. 3 millimeters?

 

Reverse and brake. I can tell you that I changed my rear shoes at 120k miles (193k km) and they still had lots of life in 'em. While I could have left them alone, I used the time to clean everything up and bleed the brake lines. Rule of thumb is that the front takes about 70% of the load and the rear takes 30%. You expect the rear to last longer. I also like to coast a lot to a stop if I can. This reduces the wear on my brakes too and keeps my mileage up.

 

Ok I guees i am good for a bit then. The factory drum has rusted over. Was wondering if I could just buy new coated drums. Leave the old brake shoes on as they are good for a bit.

 

For the price of shoes, if you replace your drums, I would replace the shoes at the same time. Then you won't have to touch your rear brakes again for 15 years...

 

@Pep I agree with @Frenzal . The answer is that you can but then you have to "seat" or "Bed" the old shoes into the new drum. Just get new shoes and forget that mess. Watch some videos on how to replace drum brakes but rule #1..

#1 Only take apart one side at a time. You can pull both wheels. You should pull both drums. Leave one set of shoes on to use as a template to assemble the other side if you forget. Honest. You'll pull one side apart. Gather your replacement parts. Start to assemble and realize that you don't recall exactly how a spring sits in there. Look at the other side to find out. Once you finish the first side and get it together, then do the other side. Put both drums on and both wheels on and finish up.

 

Short of buying the over priced dealership parts, any good shoes and drums brands to buy, or brands to make sure and avoid?
Or does it really matter, and just walk into any parts store, and order some?

 

Considering how little drum brakes have changed i think it would hard for anyone to make a bad shoe/ drum. So you're probably good with whatever you can find. Maybe try Rock Auto.

 

Thanks.



Message is tooo short, so making it longer.

 

@Breezer I don't have any specific brands in mind. I have always used the cheapest but lately, I'm seeing value in paying extra for ceramic shoes/pads. They can be better at stopping and make less noise. For me, the price seems worth it. That said, I did use the cheapest I could find on my last set. I think that will be the last time I do.

It also depends on what your goal is. For me, looks be damned. I just want to stop when I step on the pedal. If you're looking for something that is painted and looks pretty, I think that drums would be the last place I buy for that reason. They get hot and wet and in my area, salty too. They will rust. That's what steel does over all else. It rusts.

 

Ok then . I kinda wonder about it cuz when I drive into work the front rims are hot and i dare not touch the rotors but i can put my finger on the drum and feel no heat at all.

 

Front brakes will get hotter then rear brakes. Normal.

If you replace your drums, don't go cheap on the drums. I did in the past on my '99 Civic (cheaper set at Canadian Tire), and they were not perfectly round, giving me a pulse in the brake pedal every time I stopped. Really unpleasant.

 

+1
There's something to be said for investing a small amount extra the first time, to avoid future issues.