🔧 Kicks - Rear Brake Service (Shoes & Drums)

On your Kicks, the rear brakes are typically drum brakes (they use brake shoes and a brake drum, not pads and rotors). This job replaces the rear shoes and drums, then adjusts them so the pedal feels normal and the parking brake works correctly.

Difficulty Level: Intermediate | Estimated Time: 2-4 hours

Quick check: If you see a flat “rotor” and a caliper at the rear wheel, you have rear discs—tell me and I’ll give you the rear pad/rotor procedure for your Kicks. If you see a closed “drum” with no caliper, follow the steps below.

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• Work on level ground and chock the front wheels so the car cannot roll.
• Release the parking brake before removing rear drums (parking brake holds the shoes outward).
• Brake dust is unhealthy—wear a mask and use brake cleaner, not compressed air.
• Support the vehicle with jack stands; never rely on a floor jack alone.
• Do one side at a time so you can copy spring/layout from the other side.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Floor jack (rated 2-ton minimum)
• Jack stands (rated 2-ton minimum)
• Wheel chocks
• 19mm socket
• Breaker bar (1/2-inch drive)
• Torque wrench (10–150 ft-lbs range)
• Flathead screwdriver (medium)
• Needle-nose pliers
• Brake spring pliers (specialty)
• Brake adjuster spoon (specialty)
• Dead-blow hammer
• Safety glasses
• Nitrile gloves
• Dust mask

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Rear brake shoe set - Qty: 1
• Rear brake drums - Qty: 2
• Rear brake hardware kit (springs/hold-downs/adjuster parts) - Qty: 1
• Brake cleaner - Qty: 1-2 cans
• High-temp brake grease - Qty: 1

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground, shift to P, and place wheel chocks at the front tires.
• Make sure the parking brake is fully released.
• Loosen rear wheel lug nuts slightly before lifting the vehicle (do not remove them yet).
• Take a photo before removing springs.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Lift the rear and remove the wheels

• Use a breaker bar (1/2-inch drive) with a 19mm socket to loosen the lug nuts 1/2 turn.
• Lift the rear using a floor jack at the correct rear jacking point, then support with jack stands.
• Remove the lug nuts with the 19mm socket and remove both rear wheels.

Step 2: Remove the brake drum

• Pull the drum straight off by hand.
• If it’s stuck, tap around the drum face with a dead-blow hammer.
• If the drum won’t come off because the shoes are hanging up, use a flathead screwdriver (medium) through the backing-plate access slot to back off the star-wheel adjuster (the “star wheel” is the toothed adjuster that spreads the shoes).

Step 3: Inspect and document the layout

• Spray the assembly with brake cleaner and let it drip dry.
• Take a clear photo of the springs, adjuster, and lever positions (left and right can be different).

Step 4: Remove springs and shoes (one side at a time)

• Remove the return springs using brake spring pliers (specialty). (These pliers are shaped to safely unhook strong brake springs.)
• Remove the shoe hold-downs using needle-nose pliers (hold-downs are the pins/caps that keep each shoe against the backing plate).
• Lift off the shoes and remove the adjuster assembly; keep parts oriented as removed.

Step 5: Clean and lubricate contact points

• Clean the backing plate and hardware area with brake cleaner.
• Apply a thin film of high-temp brake grease to the backing-plate “shoe pads” (the small raised spots where the shoes rub).
• Do not get grease on shoe friction material or inside the drum surface.

Step 6: Install the new shoes and hardware

• Match the new shoes to the old ones, then install them in the same positions.
• Install the hold-down pins/springs using needle-nose pliers.
• Reinstall the adjuster and springs using brake spring pliers (specialty).
• If it doesn’t look identical to your photo, stop and re-check.

Step 7: Adjust the shoes before installing the drum

• Turn the star wheel using a brake adjuster spoon (specialty) until the shoes just start to expand outward.
• Slide the drum on by hand; if it won’t go, back the adjuster off slightly with the brake adjuster spoon (specialty).

Step 8: Install the drum and fine-adjust

• With the drum installed, spin it by hand.
• Adjust through the access slot with a brake adjuster spoon (specialty) until you feel a very light, even drag while spinning.

Step 9: Reinstall wheels and torque lug nuts

• Reinstall the wheels and hand-thread the lug nuts.
• Lower the vehicle off the jack stands using the floor jack.
• Tighten lug nuts in a star pattern using a torque wrench: Torque to 113 Nm (83 ft-lbs).

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✅ After Repair

• Press the brake pedal 10–15 times before driving (this centers the shoes).
• Test the parking brake: it should hold the car on a slight incline.
• Do a low-speed test drive and listen for grinding/scraping; mild rubbing can be normal right after adjustment.
• Recheck for even drag and proper adjustment if the pedal feels low or the parking brake travel is excessive.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: ₹6,000-₹14,000 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: ₹3,000-₹8,000 (parts only)

You Save: ₹3,000-₹6,000 by doing it yourself!

Local labor rates vary in Panipat, but many shops charge ₹800-₹1,500/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 2-3 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

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