Do New Brake Drums Need To Be Turned?

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Either from the lips of repairers at the auto shop or from a buddy of yours who is a car enthusiast, you may about turning off the brake drums. If you are wondering what this means, its significance, and whether a new brake drum must be turned, then ensure to read this article till the end.

So, do new brake drums need to be turned? non of the conditions necessitating the need to turn the brake drum is found in a new brake drum. This means such turning is unnecessary and will not influence the brake performance by any measure.

Irrespective of the type of brake system you have on your vehicle, brakes share a common feature in their mechanism of action. Both the brake drum and disc brakes are the same in terms of the use of friction generated between two surfaces of the brake part to hinder the movement of the wheel.

What differentiates the brake drums from the disc or rotor brakes is the surfaces used to create this stopping force. The need to have the shoes replaced or the drum turned or replaced steps to the fact that both brake parts from the complex that rub on the wheel hinder its rotation.

The rotor and pad do the same and have the same impact of friction as the brake shoes and brake drum. Similar to your sandals, after walking a while with them, you will soon notice a part of the sole start to wear. At this point, the frictional force between the sandal and the floor reduces, causing you to slip and fall.

When these surfaces become worn out, you may have to push the pedal further down before an appreciable deceleration is achieved. Later, the brake may become inefficient and fail to stop the car, which can lead to catastrophic outcomes.

Regarding the brake drums, rather than outright replacement, the drum can be turned when the inner surface becomes rough. The use of the outer surface after the drum is resurfaced will help extend the lifespan of the brakes.

Drum brakes are more durable than the disc type of brakes on account of the type of construction material as well as the availability of the option of having the drum turned after a while.

They cost less as well and are ideal for vehicles such as trucks and trailers. These vehicles require a dependable brake system that will not bulge under high pressure. Vehicles involved in racing, off-road driving as well as towing need brakes that are durable, efficient, and dependable.

Most of the time, car owners depend on the opinion and suggestions of the car repairer. So, at the repair shop, you simply seat and have the experts and professionals tell you about what is wrong with your car and suggest to you what you need to do about it.

Your role in most cases is to agree to this and pay for it. sometimes, you have to understand that the suggestion of the expert may not be the only available option. Their suggestion may be a result of their interest to make some sales of the auto parts in their shops.

So, we have noticed that the trends are changing at most repair centers. previously, when any car brings in the car for a brake problem, if following a full diagnostics work up, the brake shoes are determined to be the problem of the brakes, its replacement will be suggested along with the turning of the drums.

Turning the drum is a much cheaper option than getting a new brake drum. So why do you think more and more auto shops are seen advocating the need to change the drum alongside the brake shoes. now you have to pay for both the new shoes as well as the drum.

how much does it cost to have your drums replaced? there is no one answer to this question. most of the time, the drum is not the only thing wrong with your brakes that to be corrected.

The cost of the brake drum is usually somewhere between $200 to $400. However, the cost of the installation and other services provided depends on the charge rate of the auto shop and other problems discovered in the process.

My rule is to prepare for the unexpected each time I intend to pay a visit to the auto for repair. Irrespective of what I suspect is the cause of the problem or its estimated cost, it is always best to have a contingency plan.

when the total cost of the repairs takes you unawares, chances are you may have to leave the vehicle behind in the shop while you run around to pay for it.

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When does it become necessary to have brake drums turned?

Not all drums are savable. Whether a drum is qualified to be turned or not, whether turning the drum will be helpful or not or cause more brake problems, depends on certain factors.

The drum is thoroughly inspected for cracks. do not expect to see the visible cracks alone, be on the lookout for the microscopic hairline cracks as well.

The primary indication of the need of turning the drum is the condition of the inner surface of the drum. upon inspection, if the drum’s inner surface has become rough, then you should take the opportunity of repair processes such as brake shoe replacement to have the drum turned.

Speaking of drums that cannot be turned, parameters that must be carefully and correctly accessed before carrying out a drum turning procedure include the maximum diameter and minimum thickness of the drum.

Drums that have become considerably worn out, these dimensions may become affected, disqualifying such from being turned.

The steps to having the drum turned are pretty simple. however, the need to accurately access these dimensions and the lack of some of the tools needed may explain why car owners are generally advised to allow expert hands to handle the procedure.

Heat and friction explain the wear seen in brake pads. to slow the car down or stop the wheel’s rotation, an enormous amount of heat is generated. Brake drums generate less of this heat and as well as uniformly disperse the generated heat. this adds to its durability and longevity.

Different brake parts, depending on their role in the braking system are either directly or indirectly affected by the friction. Brake parts, therefore, wear at varying paces. in the disc type of brake system, the pads are the most affected and will therefore become worn first.

The comparable brake part to the pads is the brake shoes. drum brakes brake shoes in place of a brake pad. The shoes therefore will get worn out first before any other brake.

following the replacement of the worn-out shoes with a new pair, a disproportionately ensues between the new shoes and the drum. Rather than replacing the drum with new ones, turning the will give the same effect.

this is however only possible as long as the brake drum does not have cracks and is not too worn out to be turned.

Of all the problems a car develops, brake-related problems are the most deserve a quick response. As soon as you notice any issue with your brake, do not attempt to keep driving the car in such condition, rather, spare some time to have an expert take a look.

When the brake drum or shoes gets to the stage where they need to be replaced or turned, the first signs or symptom the driver will notice about this state is that the brake pedal no longer feels the same.

Most of the time, the pedals are way too easily when the foot is used to apply pressure. aside from this sign, depending on the severity of the damage, the brakes may also cause characteristic squealing noise as well each time the pedal is pushed down.

An average of about 150,000 to 200,000 miles is how long the brake drums are estimated to last by most of the famous brake manufacturers. This is further extended by turning the drums. ensure this is done right and you will benefit the full value of whatever you spent on the brakes.

What are the steps involved in turning the brake drum?

Let’s say you intend to carry out this process yourself, I would first commend your effort with bravo!. Note however the process may seem simple from the initial steps and may get complicated later on. If you are up for this, let’s go ahead to discuss the various steps involved in turning the brake drum.

Step 1

To prevent the car from moving back and forth as you attempt to unscrew some nuts, the first step would be to secure the car with blocks placed against the car wheel with the unaffected drum.

Step 2

After securing the car, the next step will be to raise the side of the car where this is to be carried out by applying a jack around this side of the car.

Step 3

With the car raised above the ground, you can now have access to the brake drum with ease. Remove the cover and the holding screws with the necessary tools.

At this point, consider consulting an expert to handle the rest of the process except if you have the necessary tools or skills needed by smoothening out the rough inner surface.