Back to all

Braking Good (Brake Drum Replacement)

April 20, 2025

Maybe your vehicle feels like Breaking Bad.  In other words, when you brake, things are bad.  You may find it takes you a longer distance to stop, you feel a vibration, or it’s pulsating when you depress the brake pedal, or perhaps your vehicle pulls to one side.

Those can be symptoms of failing brake drums.  While a lot more vehicles these days have disc brakes, many vehicles still have brake drums, almost always in the rear wheels. The drum is a cast iron shallow cylinder that surrounds the other parts, including curved brake shoes that press pads against the drum to slow you down or stop the vehicle.

Any time you have things going wrong with your brakes, you should get them fixed soon.  Safely operating any vehicle depends on having the brakes be able to slow and stop you dependably.  It can make the difference between avoiding a collision and having one. 

When you bring your vehicle in, a technician will inspect your braking system. Depending on the wear, drum brakes can be resurfaced or replaced. Sometimes it’s cheaper to replace the drum than to resurface it.  It’s important for all the other brake system components to be inspected first and all worn parts replaced.  

Most of the time, when you have your drums resurfaced or replaced, the brake shoes should be replaced at the same time. You have brakes at each end of your axles, and the same brake service should be done at both ends so that both sides can have consistent, even stopping power. 

Your brakes can save your life.  If their braking power is bad, you owe it to yourself and others on the road to let us help make them good again.  Good and safe.

Charlie's Fast Lube Perryville
701 S. Perryville Ave
Perryville, Missouri 63775
575-517-0022
http://www.charliesfastlubeperryville.com

Need Service?

Request a Quote

More articles from Charlie's Fast Lube Perryville

Regular Schedule or Severe Service Schedule at Charlie's Fast Lube Perryville?

August 25, 2025

Today's Charlie's Fast Lube Perryville article focuses on severe service maintenance. Many Perryville drivers are not aware of them and yet there are also very vocal advocates in Missouri who think that severe service schedules apply to everyone. Somewhere between a complete lack of awareness an... More

Automotive Tips from Charlie's Fast Lube Perryville: Knowing When Your Timing Belt Should Be Replaced

August 18, 2025

The timing belt in your engine controls the opening and closing of the intake and exhaust valves. Perryville drivers need to replace it on a schedule to avoid failure.Timing belts are very difficult to get to, requiring quite a bit of labor to access. Timing belt replacement is one of the more ex... More

Lubricate Driveshaft

August 11, 2025

See if any of these are happening to your vehicle. You feel it vibrating excessively underneath when its running, or you hear strange clunking, grating, or grinding sounds coming from beneath. Maybe its hard to turn your vehicle, or you can hear squeaking when youre going slow. Perhaps you fee... More