cmendoza21

I was in the passenger seat of my own car after getting picked up and noticed that every time the driver pressed the brakes I could hear a grinding noise coming from the passenger side front wheel. I'm pretty sure its my brake pads, which I will be changing within the next day. My question is, do I have to change the rear drum brakes all at the same time when I change the front brake pads? I will also be inspecting the front rotors and checking for any unevenly worn areas or webbing of the rotors.

Let me know if it is absolutely necessary for me to change the rear drum brakes as well.

CraigW

iTrader: (1)

Most rear drum brakes will out live the car.

Colin42

it would be worth popping the drums off and giving them a clean and lube, shouldn't need to replace anything on the rear though

CraigW

iTrader: (1)

^^ And, all of my latest Civics.... the drums slid right off easily.

cmendoza21

So spray the cylinder/springs in the drum brake assembly with brake cleaner right? Is it the same with the lube? What lube would you recommend? Like a silicon lubricant?

cmendoza21

So if I replace the old brake pads with the new ones they will have a thicker pad obviously since they're new, so if I apply the brakes would the brake pads make contact before the drum brakes, leading to them wearing out faster? Maybe I'm just overthinking the way the brake system works.

CraigW

iTrader: (1)

^^^ They likely will not be that much thicker over what you have on it currently.

Colin42

spray the whole assembly and the drum with brake clean.
for lube I use silicone paste in the areas where the shoes contact the pads and the threads of the adjuster
easiest with the shoes removed, do one side at a time so you have a reference when you reassemble, taking pictures can help too

the fronts do about 80% of the work anyways, the brakes are self adjusting

Colin42

I don't get so lucky up here in Canada, luckily the drums have those threaded holes in them