Drum Brake Shoes - Rear

Replace rear drum brake shoes on a 2007 Ram 3500 with 5.9L Cummins diesel, including hardware inspection and adjustment.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Rear brake shoe set (left and right) × 1 — Use OEM or equivalent for 11x2.25 inch drums
• Brake hardware kit (springs, pins, clips) × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Wheel cylinder (if leaking) × 2 — Inspect before ordering
• Brake drums (if worn beyond specification) × 2 — Measure before ordering

Fluids

• DOT 3 brake fluid — 0.25 qt

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level, solid ground and place transmission in Park (automatic) or 1st gear (manual)
2. Engage parking brake temporarily, then release after front wheels are chocked
3. Place wheel chocks in front of both front wheels
4. Loosen rear wheel lug nuts while vehicle is on ground (do not remove)
5. Raise rear of vehicle using floor jack at rear axle differential
6. Place jack stands under frame rails on both sides, ensuring secure contact
7. Lower vehicle onto jack stands and verify stability before working
8. Remove rear wheels completely
9. Ensure parking brake is fully released before beginning drum removal
10. Lay out all new parts and hardware for inspection before starting disassembly

Procedure

1. 1

   Remove brake drum
   Spray penetrating oil around drum hub and wheel studs if necessary. Tap drum evenly around perimeter with rubber mallet to break it free from hub. If drum is stuck, back off the brake shoe adjuster through the access hole in the drum or backing plate using a brake adjustment tool or screwdriver. Remove drum completely. If drum will not release, it may be worn beyond maximum diameter and catching on shoe ridge.
2. 2

   Inspect and clean components
   Wearing respirator and safety glasses, spray brake cleaner liberally on all components to wet down any dust. Wipe clean with rags. Inspect wheel cylinder for fluid leaks (wetness around dust boots). Inspect brake drum inner diameter for scoring, cracks, or excessive wear. Measure drum diameter and compare to the maximum diameter specification stamped on the drum (verify actual drum size for your 3500 — do not assume 11-inch). If beyond specification or severely scored, drum must be replaced or machined. Inspect backing plate for damage.
3. 3

   Remove brake shoe hold-down springs and pins
   Using hold-down spring tool, compress and rotate the hold-down spring retainer 90 degrees to release it from the pin. Remove retainer, spring, and pin from both the leading (front) and trailing (rear) brake shoes. Keep track of parts orientation for reassembly.
4. 4

   Disconnect and remove brake shoe return springs
   Using brake spring pliers or appropriate tool, carefully remove the upper return spring connecting the tops of both shoes. Remove the lower return spring. Note the spring positions and which holes they attach to. Take a photo for reference if needed. Springs are under tension - control removal to prevent injury.
5. 5

   Disconnect parking brake cable and remove shoes
   Lift brake shoe assembly away from backing plate slightly. Disconnect parking brake cable from parking brake lever on rear shoe by unhooking the cable end. Remove both brake shoes as an assembly. Separate the shoes and note the position of the adjuster mechanism, adjuster spring, and parking brake lever. Disassemble the adjuster screw and clean threads thoroughly with wire brush.
6. 6

   Transfer parking brake lever to new shoe
   Remove the parking brake lever retaining clip or C-clip from the old trailing shoe. Transfer the parking brake lever to the new trailing (rear) shoe in the same position. Install new retaining clip securely. Verify lever pivots freely on the shoe.
7. 7

   Clean and prepare backing plate
   Clean backing plate thoroughly with brake cleaner and wire brush, paying attention to the six shoe contact pads. Apply a thin layer of high-temperature brake grease to the six raised pads where shoes contact the backing plate. Do not get grease on shoe friction surfaces or drum. Verify wheel cylinder pistons are fully retracted and not leaking.
8. 8

   Assemble new shoes with adjuster mechanism
   Lubricate adjuster screw threads lightly with high-temperature brake grease. Collapse adjuster to shortest length. Connect the new leading (front) and trailing (rear) shoes with the adjuster mechanism and adjuster spring in the same configuration as removed. Ensure the adjuster star wheel is positioned for access through the backing plate adjustment hole.
9. 9

   Install assembled shoes onto backing plate
   Connect parking brake cable to parking brake lever on trailing shoe. Position shoe assembly onto backing plate, ensuring shoes seat properly in wheel cylinder slots at the top and against the anchor pin or adjuster at the bottom. Verify parking brake lever operates correctly.
10. 10

    Install hold-down springs and pins
    Insert hold-down pins from rear of backing plate through the shoes. Install hold-down springs and retainers on both shoes. Using hold-down spring tool, compress spring and rotate retainer 90 degrees to lock onto pin. Verify shoes are properly positioned on backing plate contact pads.
11. 11

    Install return springs
    Install lower return spring first, connecting bottom of both shoes in correct holes as noted during disassembly. Install upper return spring, connecting tops of both shoes. Ensure springs are fully seated in shoe holes and have proper tension. Springs should pull shoes into proper position against backing plate. Verify no spring interference with other components.
12. 12

    Pre-adjust brake shoes
    If available, use brake shoe adjustment gauge set to the inside diameter of the brake drum. Adjust the star wheel on the adjuster mechanism until shoes match gauge diameter. Alternatively, install drum and adjust star wheel outward until drum drags significantly when rotated, then back off adjuster 10-12 clicks until drum rotates freely with slight drag. Proper pre-adjustment reduces initial pedal travel.
13. 13

    Install brake drum
    Clean drum inner surface with brake cleaner. Slide drum over shoes and onto hub, ensuring it seats fully against hub face. Drum should rotate with slight drag. If drum will not fit over shoes, adjuster is extended too far - back off star wheel. Install drum retaining clip if equipped.
14. 14

    Repeat process on opposite side
    Perform all previous steps (1-13) on the opposite rear wheel. Both rear brakes must be replaced as a set to maintain balanced braking performance. Use the first completed side as reference if needed.
15. 15

    Install wheels and perform initial adjustment
    Install wheels and hand-tighten lug nuts in star pattern. Raise vehicle slightly, remove jack stands, and lower vehicle to ground. Torque lug nuts to specification (typically 145 ft-lbs for Ram 3500, verify in owner's manual for your specific wheel configuration) in star pattern. Before moving vehicle, pump brake pedal slowly several times until pedal feels firm. Check brake fluid level in master cylinder reservoir and top off with brake fluid meeting factory specification (DOT 3 or DOT 4 per owner's manual) if needed. Do not overfill.

Reassembly

1. Ensure all brake hardware is properly installed and springs are correctly seated
2. Verify parking brake cable is connected on both sides
3. Confirm brake drums are fully seated on hubs
4. Wheel lug nuts must be torqued in star pattern to proper specification (typically 135 ft-lbs)

Verification

• Pump brake pedal 15-20 times with engine off until pedal is firm and holds pressure. Pedal should not sink to floor
• Check brake fluid reservoir level - should be at MAX line. Add DOT 3 brake fluid if low
• Start engine and verify brake warning light is off
• Test parking brake: Set parking brake and verify it holds vehicle on slight incline
• Perform low-speed brake test in safe area: At 5-10 mph, apply brakes firmly. Vehicle should stop smoothly without pulling to either side
• Perform bed-in procedure: Make 10-15 gentle stops from 30-40 mph to properly seat new shoes. Avoid hard braking for first 200 miles
• After 50-100 miles, recheck brake adjustment and wheel cylinder for leaks. Re-torque lug nuts
• Listen for abnormal brake noises (grinding, squealing beyond initial break-in). Some light noise during initial break-in is normal
• If brake pedal is low, pedal sinks, vehicle pulls to one side, or brakes feel weak, DO NOT DRIVE. Have vehicle towed to professional mechanic
• Verify brake shoe adjustment by rotating drum by hand (wheel off) - should have slight drag but rotate freely

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