how do you know when rear drum brakes are ready to be replaced? the front discs will grind letting you know to change them right? Ive changed the fronts like twice in 6 months. Im thinking the rears are shot and the fronts are overcompensating thus wearing them out ridiculously fast. Is there any indicator or noise that I should look for? Also when I am at a stop sign and I take off, its like the back of the car gets unstuck then goes. Like the back brakes wont let go until i overpower them. IDK any ideas

 

The best thing would be to take the drums off and check them. If they are riveted they will make some noise when they get down to the rivets. Check the hardware and make sure everything is functioning. It is possible that the brakes are not returning when you let off the pedal and then when you start going they pop back into place. Also check the wheel cylinders for leakage, pull the dust boot back and check for wetness. They should be dry.

 

firestone gives free brake inspections.

 

damn i might have to stop by firestone. Thanks for the tips, Ill pull the wheels off and try to figure out what the hell is going on, at least I know where to start looking.

 

most shops give free inspections for a reason. i hate taking my cars to the shop they always upsell and get you to do stuff you don't need. some people have been lucky to find descent honest mechanics, i am not one of them. if you ever find one hang on to them. any thing you can do yourself definately do. pull them off and see how much pad you have. if you do change them yourself, be sure to only take apart one at a time. some times you need to look at the other side if you take them all apart and compare when you are putting them back together.

 

Pull the drum and check the shoes and the operation of it. On my gf's Civic, hers are so bad that they only move when you push down on the pedal a lot (which explains why when her car brakes, it'll do so at a constant rate and then all of a sudden you feel the brakes kick in some more).

 

my old shitbird had rear drums, if the they go bad like the hydrolic or w/e thats in them its expensive to fix... and just b/c firestone over charges doesnt mean u have to get the work done lol... just get your inspection and leave.

 

i don't let anyone rape me i was talking about what they try to do. unless it's transmission related i do pretty much everything myself. saves me a ton of money. i have used shops plenty of times though when it is necessary i just figured brakes are not necessary for a shop to work on. that's just me