BMW 318is Brake Drum Replacement Costs

Estimate price near me

Service Location

Customer Ratings

Included for free with this service

Online Booking

Mechanic comes to you

12-month / 12k-mile warranty

Free 50 point safety inspection

Our certified mobile mechanics can come to your home or office 7 days a week between 7 AM and 9 PM.

See availability

Customer Ratings

Brake Drum Replacement Service

How much does a Brake Drum Replacement cost?

On average, the cost for a BMW 318is Brake Drum Replacement is $298 with $175 for parts and $123 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.

Car	Service	Estimate	Shop/Dealer Price
1991 BMW 318isL4-1.8L	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$582.91	Shop/Dealer Price$711.76 - $1039.27
1993 BMW 318isL4-1.8L	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$597.49	Shop/Dealer Price$737.54 - $1098.51
1992 BMW 318isL4-1.8L	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$625.50	Shop/Dealer Price$771.31 - $1141.68
1995 BMW 318isL4-1.8L	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$597.49	Shop/Dealer Price$737.47 - $1098.40
1997 BMW 318isL4-1.9L	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$616.48	Shop/Dealer Price$760.08 - $1123.72
1998 BMW 318isL4-1.9L	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$511.02	Shop/Dealer Price$628.21 - $912.72
1996 BMW 318isL4-1.9L	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$624.98	Shop/Dealer Price$768.13 - $1131.43
1999 BMW 318isL4-1.9L	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$519.52	Shop/Dealer Price$637.41 - $922.45

Show example BMW 318is Brake Drum Replacement prices

What are brake drums and how do they work?

A brake drum is a heavy, cast iron brake system part that looks like a shallow, several inches-high cylinder about 9 to 12 inches in diameter. The brake drum has a precisely machined surface all around the interior circumference, that the brake shoes make contact with when you apply the brakes, transmitting hydraulic pressure through the wheel cylinder. This forces the brake shoes outward against the interior of the brake drum, resulting in the friction that causes the car to slow. The brake drum is mounted over, and fully encloses, all of the rear brake components such as the wheel cylinder, springs and clips, brake shoes, and parking brake mechanism. The drum is commonly held to the wheel hub by the wheel and the lug nuts, but some configurations combine the drum with the wheel hub as one unit. Nowadays, a drum brake type system is only installed on the rear axle, if used at all, as 4 wheel disc type systems have become more common.

When to consider replacing brake drums:

Reduced braking effectiveness. If the brake drum is unevenly worn, scored or cracked, it will increase stopping distances. A cracked drum must be replaced outright but a worn drum can be restored on a brake lathe so long as enough metal material remains.
Pulsating brakes, pulling to one side, vibration or noise. If a brake drum is warped, is unevenly worn, or perhaps the brake shoes have worn down completely — creating metal-to-metal contact — you might detect pedal pulsation, the vehicle may pull to one side, or you might feel a vibration or hear a noise when you apply the brakes. The brake system will have to be inspected to pinpoint the exact problem.
Brake shoe replacement. Anytime the brake shoes are replaced, the drum must either be resurfaced or replaced outright. Installing new brake shoes on a used, unresurfaced drum will lead to poor results.
Loss of parking brake function. The parking brake locks the brake shoes against the brake drum. If the brake drum is cracked, the parking brake lever will pull up excessively and the car may still be able to roll. However, a more common circumstance is parking brake maladjustment or seizure of parking brake components. Repair of those problems will often require removal of the brake drum.

How do mechanics replace brake drums?

There are two options when it comes to brake drum service: outright replacement or resurfacing. In some cases, it is cheaper to replace the drum rather than refurbish it. In both cases though, the removal and installation procedure for the drum is the same.

Raise the vehicle and safely support it using steel jack stands.
Remove tire and wheel assembly.
Remove brake drum. Sometimes the brake drum has rusted to the wheel hub and removal of the drum will require a brake drum puller. In some cases, the wheel hub is integral to the brake drum, in which case the hub-bearing retaining bolt and the wheel bearing must be removed to replace the drum.
Measure the interior diameter of the machined surface in the drum with a brake drum micrometer or similar measuring tool. If sufficient metal exists to resurface the drum on a brake lathe, the mechanic will compare the cost of such restoration to the alternative: buying a new drum.
Prior to installing the resurfaced or new drum, the brake shoes, springs, wheel cylinder, parking brake mechanism, and backing plate are all inspected. All worn parts should be replaced. Generally, if drums have been replaced or resurfaced, new brake shoes should be installed. The worn shoes will cause irregular wear in the brake drum and reduce braking effectiveness.
The shoes are adjusted and the drum is installed. The wheel and tire assembly are installed and torqued in the proper sequence and the car is road tested to check the operation of the brakes.

Is it safe to drive with a brake drum problem?

No. Should there be a deficiency with the brake drums, stopping distances will not be as short as possible. In a panic stop, stopping just five or ten feet shorter could be the difference between no collision and a collision. Any deficiency in a vehicle’s braking system is a cause for concern and a potential safety issue. Have the brake drums inspected at your earliest convenience to determine if a problem exists and find out what must be done to fix it.

When replacing brake drums keep in mind:

With few exceptions, brake work on one end of an axle should be performed on both ends of the axle. Should a brake drum on one end of a front or rear axle be serviced, or brake shoes on one end are serviced, both sides of the axle should receive the same service. This helps to avoid problems, such as pulling, vibration, and so forth, once the vehicle is returned for use.
Brake drum systems use very powerful springs to keep the brake shoes in position. These springs are exposed to extreme heat. It is best practice to replace all springs whenever new shoes are installed. Should a spring unexpectedly break in the brake drum assembly, a mispositioned brake shoe could cause the brakes to grab and lock, which would pose a safety issue.
If the wheel hub and bearing are integral to the brake drum on your car, the mechanic may recommend replacement of the grease in the wheel bearings and inspection of the wheel bearings.
Since the arc of the brake shoes will not perfectly match with the arc of the drum when new, expect a bed-in period before maximum braking efficiency is achieved.

Fast and easy service at your home or office

Backed by 12-month, 12.000-mile guarantee

Meet some of our expert BMW mechanics

Real customer reviews from BMW owners like you.

Excellent Rating

(7)

Rating Summary

7

0

0

0

0

7

0

0

0

0

SEE REVIEWS NEAR ME

Peter

43 years of experience

1321 reviews

Peter

43 years of experience

by Cathy

BMW 318is L4-1.8L - Car is not starting - Scottsdale, Arizona

Peter was awesome, thorough and completely honest. He knew exactly what to look for, I felt i had a complete diagnosis of what was wrong with my car.

David

28 years of experience

142 reviews

David

28 years of experience

by Harvey

BMW 318is L4-1.8L - Thermo Fan Switch - San Diego, California

David's technological and mechanical trouble shooting abilities and professionalism is beyond reproach. He is not only thorough but easily explains what troubles found but also explains how the found discrepancy affects the car. If I need to call 'Your Mechanic' again, I will insist that David come again. He is the best car mechanic I have met to date.

James

12 years of experience

233 reviews

James

12 years of experience

by John

BMW 318is L4-1.8L - Radiator Hose Repair - Daly City, California

James was a great mechanic, he arrived early and showed me what needed to be repaired. He was very professional and experienced at what he does. The work he did was outstanding and he fixed my squealing belts. He brought all the tools that was needed even the special tools BMW uses to fix the problem I had. I would recommend using his service again for any other problems I have with my BMW.

Theodore

16 years of experience

1592 reviews

Request Theodore

Theodore

16 years of experience

Request Theodore

by Jason

BMW 318is L4-1.9L - Clutch Master Cylinder - Lynnwood, Washington

Very convenient! Thank you Theodore

Excellent Rating

(7)

Rating Summary

7

0

0

0

0

7

0

0

0

0

SEE REVIEWS NEAR ME

Recent articles & questions

How to Get a Kansas Driver's Permit

Kansas Kansas requires that all new drivers participate in a Graduated Driver Licensing program. The first step in this program is to obtain a learner’s permit, that graduates to a full license as the driver gains experience and age, to...

How to Get Lincoln Dealership Certified

Lincoln dealerships offer automotive technician jobs to those who are Lincoln certified through UTI’s Ford Accelerated Credential Training program.

P2765 OBD-II Trouble Code: Input/Turbine Speed Sensor B Circuit

P2765 means the system is receiving a bad or no signal from the input/turbine speed sensor B due to faulty sensors or solenoids or electrical issues.

Front lower control arm bushings loose

Suspension parts wear over time. The style of your driving, as well as the condition of the local roads, can have a significant effect on the amount of time it takes to wear. The suspension is one big system; it...

White smoke under hood on the passenger side when idle 2003 infiniti g35 coupe

Hi There, The white smoke may be a couple of different possibilities, depending on the kind of white smoke. If this is more of a steamy white smoke, this may indicate an overheating problem which may be causing the coolant...

have replaced crankshaft sensor twice in one week? what can be causing this?

In your circumstance, there are a few failure modes that could potentially apply: If the crankshaft has a heavily worn main thrust bearing, the crankshaft will move around and the thin metal plate running through the crank sensor can repeatedly...

How can we help?

Our service team is available 7 days a week, Monday - Friday from 6 AM to 5 PM PST, Saturday - Sunday 7 AM - 4 PM PST.

1 (855) 347-2779 · hi@yourmechanic.com