brake drum kits

Brake Drum Kits in US

A brake drum kit addresses the most common brake service shortcut, replacing shoes on a worn drum, or fitting new drums with glazed, worn shoes. Either combination prevents correct break-in. New shoes have a specific arc radius profile that must contact a fresh drum surface across the full lining width. A worn drum has an irregular, tapered bore that forces new shoes to ride on edge rather than face, producing noise, uneven wear, and reduced braking force from the first use. A GeoBrakes drum kit eliminates that incompatibility by delivering matched drums and shoes confirmed for your vehicle in a single order.

What's Included in a Brake Drum Kit?

• Brake drums, OEM-spec cast-iron castings for left and right rear wheels, correct inner diameter
• Drum brake shoes, OEM-grade friction lining matched to the drum bore and wheel cylinder specification
• Brake hardware kit, return springs, hold-down hardware, and self-adjusters
• Wheel cylinder, included in full-service kit configurations for a complete hydraulic renewal
• Drum retaining hardware, clips where required by the specific vehicle application

Why American Conditions Make a Full Kit the Right Call

Road salt and freeze-thaw cycles deteriorate every component in the drum brake system over the same service interval. By the time a drum is worn, the shoes are typically at or near minimum thickness, the hardware is corroded, and the wheel cylinder boots are deteriorating. Replacing drums and shoes alone, while leaving worn springs and seized adjusters, produces a service that underperforms within months. A full drum kit starts every component in the assembly fresh, making the repair resistant to the conditions that caused the original failure.

Signs Your Brake Drum Kit Is Due

• Rear brake pulsation or grabbing during stops, out-of-round or tapered drum bore
• Grinding or scraping from the rear axle with the parking brake fully released
• Drum inner surface scored or worn to maximum allowable diameter on inspection
• Friction lining at or below 1.5mm visible during drum removal
• Parking brake requiring excessive travel before holding the vehicle on a slope
• Vehicle pulling to one side under braking, asymmetric drum or shoe condition

Why GeoBrakes for Brake Drum Kits?

Drum and shoe arc radius must match exactly for correct contact geometry. An incorrect drum diameter or wrong-spec shoe lining produces immediate uneven wear and noise. Every kit in the GeoBrakes catalogue is assembled for your exact year, make, model, and axle, drum diameter, shoe arc, and hardware spring rates all confirmed as a matched set. Basic kits (drums and shoes) and full-service kits (adding wheel cylinder) are available to match your service scope.

Frequently Asked Questions About Brake Drum Kits

Q: How do I know if I need a basic kit or a full-service kit?

A: A basic kit is appropriate when the wheel cylinders have been recently replaced and show no signs of leaking. A full-service kit is the stronger choice during a high-mileage overhaul or when the rear brake system has not been fully inspected in several years, particularly on American vehicles with significant winter salt exposure.

Q: Can I install a brake drum kit myself?

A: Rear drum brake service is a moderately advanced DIY task. It requires removing the drum, dismantling the shoe assembly, correctly routing return springs, and adjusting shoes to the correct drum clearance. A service manual for your specific vehicle and the correct spring installation tools are essential for a safe, correctly functioning result.

Q: Should I replace drum kits on both rear wheels at the same time?

A: Yes. Always replace drum brake components as an axle set, both left and right rear, to maintain balanced braking force. Drums and shoes at different wear stages create uneven rear braking that pulls the vehicle to one side under braking.