Rear Brake Job?

[dodge man2]

How tough is it to do the rear brakes on a 3/4 ton. I've done several brake jobs over the years, but the axle removal has me concerned. I also need to do the parking brakes, which aren't working at all on my truck. I've read through the shop manual for the axle removal and it doesn't look to bad. So how tough is it?

[camorhino]

You only remove the axle on DRW trucks

[dodge man2]

I looked at mine when I had the tire off and checked the pads. It looked like you had to pull the axle to get the rotors off, but maybe not. If you take the calibers off, does the rotor come off?

[Hall00]

I just did my rear brakes today, the only issue I saw was the new pads didn't include anti-rattle clips, so had to re-use the old stamped steel set. Other than that, fairly simple and straightforward. I did not mess with my parking brake at all, never use it. Pretty flat around here in TX. I did soak everything with brake cleaner first. Ed.

[Dodgezilla]

I recently did mine as well. I had to bang on the rotors with a 3lb hammer to break them loose but other than that it was simple. I did not mess with my EB at all. Slid the old rotors off and slid the new ones on.

[Dudge]

Yea, you don't have to pull the axle on our trucks to change the rotors, unless you want to change seals while you're in there. The axles come out very easy if you want to do that.

[dodge man2]

I just took my wheel off for a quick look at the pads. It looked like my rotors were set in several inches from the end of the axle, and part of the rotors extended out to the end of the axle, almost like a short top hat. It didn't look like what I normally see, which is just usually the rotor and nothing else. Does this sound correct?

[nickg]

rotor set up is exactly like any front wheel car or the front of your truck, rotor is like a hat it slips on over the hub/axel. as mentioned hit it with a hammer inbetween the studs(dont miss) and the rotor will pop loose, also must remove caliper (2 bolts) and unbolt the caliper bracket to get the rotor off, park brake shoes are under the rotor, even with new cables new shoes and properly adjusted, they will hardly hold on the flat let alone a grade.

[Lad79der]

How do you adjust the parking brake on the rear of the truck?

[rdefayette]

Originally Posted by Lad79der

How do you adjust the parking brake on the rear of the truck?

From the book.
ADJUSTMENT - WITH ADJUSTING TOOL
Adjustment can be made with a standard brake gauge or with adjusting tool. Adjustment is performed with the complete brake assembly installed
on the backing plate.
(1) Be sure parking brake lever is fully released.
(2) Raise vehicle so rear wheels can be rotated freely.
(3) Remove plug from each access hole in brake support plates.
(4) Loosen parking brake cable adjustment nut until there is slack in front cable.
(5) Insert adjusting tool through support plate access hole and engage tool in teeth of adjusting screw star wheel.
(6) Rotate adjuster screw star wheel (move tool handle upward) until slight drag can be felt when wheel is rotated.
(7) Back off adjuster screw star wheel until brake drag is eliminated.
(8) Repeat adjustment at opposite wheel. Be sure adjustment is equal at both wheels.
(9) Install support plate access hole plugs.
(10) Adjust parking brake cable and lower vehicle.
(11) Depress park brake pedal and make sure park brakes hold the vehicle staionary.
(12) Release park brake pedal.

[Lad79der]

Without looking at the manual, do they show what the special tool looks like? Ive used a flat bladed screw driver before. Same concept?

[rdefayette]

Originally Posted by Lad79der

Without looking at the manual, do they show what the special tool looks like? Ive used a flat bladed screw driver before. Same concept?

yup, same type of "spoon" used in the OLD days on drum brakes.