Brake Drum - Rear

This procedure covers removal and installation of rear brake drums on a 2015-2020 Ford F-150 with 3.5L EcoBoost engine equipped with rear drum brakes.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Brake drum(s) × 2 — Use OEM specification or quality aftermarket

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level, solid surface and engage parking brake
2. Place wheel chocks in front of front wheels
3. Loosen rear wheel lug nuts 1/4 turn while vehicle is on ground
4. Lift rear of vehicle using floor jack at rear differential or frame lift points
5. Support vehicle securely on jack stands placed under frame rails
6. Remove rear wheels completely and set aside

Procedure

1. 1

   Release parking brake
   Fully release the parking brake lever or pedal inside the vehicle. The parking brake actuates the rear drum brakes and must be released to remove drums.
2. 2

   Remove drum retaining clips if present
   Some drums may have small spring clips or push nuts retaining the drum to the wheel studs during assembly. These are not reused and can be discarded. Use pliers or a flat screwdriver to remove if present.
3. 3

   Attempt initial drum removal
   Grasp the brake drum firmly with both hands and pull straight off the hub. The drum should slide off the brake shoes and hub assembly. If drum does not come off easily, proceed to next step.
4. 4

   Address seized drum
   If drum is stuck, apply penetrating oil around the drum center hub interface and let sit for 5-10 minutes. Tap gently around the outer edge of the drum with a rubber mallet, rotating the drum and tapping evenly. Do not strike the friction surface. If drum has threaded holes in the face, thread in two appropriately sized bolts evenly to press drum off hub.
   ⚠Excessive force can damage wheel bearings or axle seals. If drum will not release with moderate tapping and penetrating oil, check that parking brake is fully released and consult service manual for additional procedures.
5. 5

   Inspect drum and hub surfaces
   Once drum is removed, inspect the friction surface for cracks, heat scoring, or excessive wear. Measure drum diameter if resurface specifications are needed. Inspect hub surface for corrosion, debris, or damage. Clean hub mounting surface with wire brush to remove rust and corrosion.
6. 6

   Clean and prepare new/resurfaced drum
   If installing new drum, remove any protective coating with brake cleaner. If drum was resurfaced, ensure machining debris is completely cleaned from friction surface. Clean the drum center bore with wire brush to ensure proper seating on hub.
7. 7

   Apply anti-seize to hub
   Apply a thin layer of anti-seize compound to the hub pilot surface where drum center bore seats. Do not allow anti-seize to contact brake friction surfaces or brake shoe area.
8. 8

   Install brake drum
   Align drum with wheel studs and slide drum onto hub, ensuring it seats flush against the hub face. Drum should slide on with light hand pressure. Rotate drum to verify it spins freely without scraping or binding on brake shoes.
   ⚠If drum does not seat completely or binds when rotated, brake shoes may need adjustment. Do not force drum installation as this may damage brake components.
9. 9

   Reinstall wheel
   Mount wheel onto hub, aligning holes with wheel studs. Thread lug nuts on by hand until snug. Do not fully torque at this time.
10. 10

    Repeat for opposite side
    Repeat steps 1-9 for the opposite rear brake drum. Always replace or service brake components in axle sets to maintain balanced braking performance.
11. 11

    Lower vehicle and torque lug nuts
    Remove jack stands and carefully lower vehicle to ground. Torque wheel lug nuts to specification in a star/cross pattern to ensure even seating of wheel.
    Torque spec

    Wheel Lug Nuts140 Nm (103 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Ensure both rear wheels are torqued properly using star pattern
2. Pump brake pedal several times to verify proper brake feel before moving vehicle
3. If brake shoes were disturbed or adjusted, perform parking brake adjustment per manufacturer specification

Verification

• Test brake pedal feel - should be firm with normal travel, not spongy or going to floor
• Perform low-speed brake test in safe area to verify proper braking function
• Listen for any unusual noises during initial brake applications - slight noise may occur for first few stops as drums seat
• Verify parking brake holds vehicle on incline if parking brake was adjusted
• Re-check wheel lug nut torque after 50-100 miles of driving

More procedures for this vehicle