We talked about the wide world of disc brakes in our previous look at brake systems. Now let’s jump into the dark arts of drum brakes. Because there are generally more moving parts with a drum brake ...

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. As far as automotive maintenance goes, brake repair and replacement tend to be near the top of the list, both in importance and ease of work.

Brake job proficiency is a sort of status symbol among do-it-yourself truckers, indicating a grade of mechanical expertise that commands awe among greenhorns and respect from seasoned professionals.

The hardest part of disassembling the brakes is usually removing the drum. Some drums and most backing plates have inspection slots near the bottom (sometimes covered with a rubber plug or a steel ...