Rear Brake Job 

For Beginners (like me): Make sure you release the parking (emergency) brake before you remove the drum, otherwise it won't come off. It is advised in this film, but just to remind. I didn't and was fighting w/the drum for an hour applying penetrant, beating it w/hammer. Then looked again into Haynes book. The drum came off immediately after I released the parking brake. This film is great, thank you. The C-clip after the installation should be tightened (closed) w/pliers (I used good size pliers, since the clip is very stiff). Thank you for a great film.

Thanks for the vid richpin. My son and I just finished doing this on his first car (handed down from me) with your help. Your videos have helped so much keeping the old girl on the road this long

This is amazing, was recently gifted a 97 SL2 with 202k miles, just drove it 1500 miles, got a small leak in the rear brake cylinder along the way ( or it has been there). Seeing how much of a community the Saturn Fans have is really cool. Avg 33 mpg and only burned a quart of oil over the 1500 miles.

I havent done my own break in decades so I really appreciate your video to refresh my tired ole mind. Thank you!

This a great video. The correct sequence as you explain makes this job very simple. Before watching I was struggling to reattach the springs during reassembly. Now it's a cinch. Thank you for your simple informative explanation. My 1998 SL2 just turned 25 years old with 62,000 miles and it still runs great.

Thanks! This was really helpful. The place I take my car for safety inspections wanted $400 to replace the rear brakes. I got new drums and shoes for about $80 and got the first wheel done in about 90 minutes. Waiting till it stops raining to do the other.

Thank you for posting. This clarifies the steps in the proper order, and how to assemble correctly.

Hello, I just wanted to add my comment of support for your kind efforts at directing those of us who have more time than $$$$$, when it comes to fixing our own vehicles. I watched the video once and found out why my reassembly of the new drum brakes wasn't working. Your video showed me that there's a method to reassembly that works best for the attachment of the rear brake springs. Knowing this simple but necessary order made the job of reassembling the brakes much smoother. I was also trying to hook my spring in the wrong hole. Doh! I'm done for now, except for checking the boots for leaks. I'll tackle that job later. Many thanks for your kind assistance!

Hey, that doesn't look so bad! I have been putting this off forever because I was expecting it to be so much worse... Thank You for this great video resource!

after 40 years in this business this is one of the best videos I.seen on brake shoe replacement!! he must be a trained tech but he didnt show u the vacuum session when you vacuum all the dust before dissaemble and there a pressure washer good post tho

omg thank you for showing this vid, i have a honda civic 96 and i've been trying to find a vid on how to remove the brakes and you're the only one who has a clear vid and also you didn't like rush it through and also you made it easy to follow and understand. so thank you. i know it's not the same kind of car but it's the same thing when it comes to the back brakes. thank you. =D

Keep in mind, this should be a 30 minute job. If you drink, this could end up taking 10 hours lol. thanks for the video, so useful after 14 years for my 20 year old saturn!

WE LOVE YOU richpin, I owned 4 Saturn S-series and that's because of you richpin half the knowledge I get is from you so I would like to Thank You very much. Go Saturn!

THANK YOU very much! this is one of the best or the best video i`ve EVER seen in RU-vid. why? because is well explained, no time waisted in over-explaining things that we`r already seing, camera very well positioned, camera is NOT shacky like in many, many videos, very clear english, no too fast, no too slow, just.......PERFECT! and i, appreciate that because people like you help people like me save money, money that we need very much. thank you again. and i subscribed. btw.

The Drum slid off as easy as could be... AFTER I took off the emergency brake! HA! That cost me about 15 minutes of wrestling with the drum because I thought it was rusted! Oh well, the other side will be even easier - I watched bits and pieces of this vid throughout! Thanks again!

In AC-Delco kit and others, the top return spring is grey, the adjuster spring is blue, and the bottom spring is red.

Ever try to assembly something that someone else took apart? It's a nightmare! This video saved the day.

Thank you! I remember replacing drums before and forgot to lay what we removed down in order! So much easier step by step.

I am convinced you are a wizard. You made getting that front shoe back on look so easy. It took me about 8 attempts before the adjuster finally cooperated and stayed in place on the rear shoe. Also, how the heck did you keep your hands so clean?!! But all up, great video. You really saved my bacon!

I would get the wheel off the ground pull up on the parking brake and see if you can move the wheel by hand.There is a adjusting window on the backing plate but is very difficult to adjust because the window does not line up with the adjuster.

just did my back brakes today for the first time ever.Your video was the key...thanks so much

I feel silly, it takes me all day to do it and you did it on 7 minutes. I have a Corolla and it seems the same, thanks for the nice video, its clear, easy to understand and set at the right pace.

Thanks so much. I've never done rear drum brakes. You EXCELLENT video made it possible. Again THANKS!

Hey Rich thanks for posting this. I did my rear drums using this video, very well done. Thanks Keith

Well done excellent job !! You make drums look as easy as disk!!!

Great job! Last time I did this was 10 years ago and I forgot how all the pieces and parts went together.Charley

It would be nice if you included a tools list in the desc. but not necessary. Thanks for taking the time to make these.

Great video! I watched it four times and did both rear brakes in half and hour!

Yes i have seen this a lot.Usually i take a scraper to the hole to make the pin fit.

good news. like every time i do work on my car i havent done before, its in the first few steps i get hung up and thus overcome with grief and frustration, but after the first handful of hang-ups its smooth sailing. ive gotten one side done. i forgot exactly which of the top springs went exactly where. i put the big one on back and the smaller "crook neck" one in front. also i forgot to get lube for the contact points.

Great video as are all your videos! As you are into tools, I found a super one to share... the KTC 1944. A one-piece treated steel T handle 6" tool with nice hook. Easier/safer than vise grips. I put the adjuster and its spring on last, to freely do gross adjustments to the adjuster. This adjuster self adjusts by service brake application when the adjuster is too loose during unloaded condition during service application.

very good calm instructions not rushed just changed my rave 4 thanks ron

The hardest part of the job will be getting the drum off.Using penetrating oil weeks before you start will help.

Another excellent demonstration and explanation. You sir, are good!

@screwpimp yes you have to remove all those part to change the wheel cylinders.After everything is back in place you turn the star wheel adjuster and fit the drum till there is a slit drag of the brake shoes and you are done.

All your videos are Excellent! Thank you for all of your efforts. LONG LIVE RICHPIN!

Big help when changing mine this weekend. Thanks!

Thank you for all of your videos!

Thanks for posting this vid, it was a great help and saved me money.

great job rich, great detail

Thank you Richpin, very easy to follow, excellent!!!!

yea i can see that well we got the drum off by forcing it out and everything looks good except the cylinders where really bad so i replaced it. thanks for the help buddie

The shoes in this system are used for the main brake and the e-brake.

great video as always! I have learned so much from your videos!

sounds good. I can hear him hitting it with the hammer outside. This thing seriously isn't coming off without a fight. I asked my dad why he couldn't just pry it off with like a crow bar and he said something about it warping the part behind it.

Love this video, thank you so much!!!

This is a really great video. Thanks!

its no problem. thank you for getting back to me. we did fix it today al set.

@tyton1234 Yes they dropped the ball when they put the access hole in the backing plate.It is doable with a wire and screwdriver but is very frustrating and time consuming.It would be a lot faster and less aggravating to use a drum remover tool but how many of us have that at our disposal.

Thanks Rich. A clear guide, well presented. :)

@therockkkkher No certain number years that i know of just check for leaks every brake job.Most drum brakes will have a little window in the backing plate were you can adjust the brakes.

I am having a real hard time finding the adjuster from behind the sl1 1999 series, thank you for the video.

This guy is good. Thanks!

First back off the adjuster and retry.For those really stubborn drums they make removal tools.Snap On has a very good one.

@karlakatie1522 Makes sense that the injector is now the master cylinder and the reservoir is the bleeder so you should be able to clean the sediment.

thank you thank you thank you. #lifesaver it made doing my.breaks so much easier this time around.

I will put it on my video to do list.

Great help thanks a lot for posting this!

Nice vid I was kinda hoping to see a rear star adjustment video where someone adjusts the shoes through the peep hole in the back of the pad

thanks. i had to replace the rear wheel cylnder on my sw2 tonight.

Yes you need to adjust the shoes outward till they make slight contact with the drum.

Good video on replacing rear brakes, Thks.

you got me ready to think i can do this myself :)

If you find fluid under the boot you have to replace the wheel cylinder.

Thanks man this was really helpful

Excellent, very clear info.

Wow Rich, I didn't know you had videos going to this far. You're still doing it big

Than you very much,this video is perfect.

Well, I went and got my stuff to do the job - we'll see tomorrow! :O) I live in Virginia, so hopefully not TOO bad. Thanks!

Great video... thank you

But excellent video and good knowledge of the brake component parts most people can learn something new from this video

I just had a similar problem getting my drum to come free - I used a three jaw puller to get it to go which mangled the shoe retaining pin clip. 28 bucks for a spring kit (which you should buy anyway) and I'm good to go!

thats really helped me great video

Great video, very informative.

If the adjuster is working properly,yes

Yup, you make it look REAL easy!

This one of the few things Saturn missed the boat on.There is a window in the backing plate but it is almost useless to get to the adjuster because of its location to the adjuster.

Yes,even if the other side is not leaking chances are it will shortly.

@Shoua68Mommy Yes it is true most drum brakes are quite similar so i can see why my video helped you.

It's a nice car glad i could keep them going.

i've tried heat on the brake bleeder valve,i've tried pentrating oil, i have tried the little tool that fits inside the bleeder valve to break it loose from the inside. i must be doing something really wrong. by the way thank ya'll for your comments on my post. its been awhile since i've been on here. so thanks again and i'll keep trying.

Nice video.......I'm gona try my brakes soon. thanks for the info

superb. thoroughly expounded upon. Thx.

T shirt t shirts !!! Your the best !! Bless you and thank you !! Again with your help , my wife thinks I’m a stud !! 😂😂

@MrRaiders6769 You have rust formed on the braking surface from water in the air.You have two chooses live with it or replace the drums and shoes.

Hello, great step by step video. Do you know if this also works for a Saturn Ion 2003?

@TheInsanetrucker They make a tool for a air impact wrench that is suppose to be good at removing frozen bleeders.

thank you for the video.

@shrivalup Saturn put the window in the backing plate on the wrong side.I have tried a couple of time to come up with a solution and failed ever time.The good news for me is i have not run into a stuck drum yet ( knock on wood)but if i do i will make or buy a drum remover.

@largefilipino Using penetrating oil on the drum at the hub area a day before the job can save quite a bit of aggravation getting the drum off in most cases.

Your best bet is to take both drums off then it should be quite apparent by looking at both what the problem is

Thanks, good vid tutorial

This is the drum brakes on the saturn s-series.

Yes replace the wheel cylinder and after it is all back together with the drum on bleed the new cylinder.

@shrivalup The pin most of the time does not fit in the new shoes what i do is use a scraper (converted three point file) to enlarge the hole.

It was very helpful

The Quick & Dirty Method . I like. Thanx. Xxx

You might as well say, richpin06a is my machanic. I don't even like taking my car to the shop anymore, because I just don't trust them and the price they charge is just crazy. I would buy one of those shirts also.

@Filmaker25 No it is connected to the wheel bearing.

This was a great video! After following the steps I now longer hear the grinding noise from the back brakes. How much did you have to adjust the adjuster? Just curious as my parking brake seems a little soft after doing the job. Any input is greatly appreciated!