logo

BMW 335i GT xDrive Brake Drum Replacement at your home or office.

Our mobile mechanics offer services 7 days a week. Upfront and transparent pricing.

Estimate price near me

Service Location

Customer Ratings

(6,643)

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

(6,643)

Brake Drum Replacement Service

How much does a Brake Drum Replacement cost?

On average, the cost for a BMW 335i GT xDrive Brake Drum Replacement is $438 with $296 for parts and $142 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.

CarServiceEstimateShop/Dealer Price
2016 BMW 335i GT xDriveL6-3.0L TurboService typeBrake Drum ReplacementEstimate$802.11Shop/Dealer Price$985.76 - $1477.67
2015 BMW 335i GT xDriveL6-3.0L TurboService typeBrake Drum ReplacementEstimate$734.43Shop/Dealer Price$908.71 - $1372.39
2014 BMW 335i GT xDriveL6-3.0L TurboService typeBrake Drum ReplacementEstimate$734.43Shop/Dealer Price$908.71 - $1372.38
Show example BMW 335i GT xDrive 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

Number of BMW services completed
73073+
services done by our mechanics
TOTAL NUMBER OF EXPERT BMW MECHANICS
1100+
experts on our platform
Yourmechanic was featured in

New York Times NBC CBS Forbes INC Tech Crunch

Learn more about us

Meet some of our expert BMW mechanics

Real customer reviews from BMW owners like you.

Excellent Rating

(6,643)
Rating Summary
6,192
205
60
44
142
6,192
205
60
44
142

Joseph

27 years of experience
578 reviews
Request Joseph
Joseph
27 years of experience
Request Joseph
by Mehmood
BMW 335i GT xDrive L6-3.0L Turbo - Brake Pads Replacement (Front, Rear) - Sugar Land, Texas
This is the 2nd time Joseph has worked on my cars and similar to the last time he was very proficient and fast. He even arrived early after confirming and finished the job before the estimated end time.

Attila

19 years of experience
917 reviews
Request Attila
Attila
19 years of experience
Request Attila
by Akshay
BMW 335i GT xDrive L6-3.0L Turbo - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - Jersey City, New Jersey
Extremely professional and knowledgeable. I would highly recommend Attilas.

Casey

19 years of experience
61 reviews
Request Casey
Casey
19 years of experience
Request Casey
by Mehmood
BMW 335i GT xDrive L6-3.0L Turbo - Oil Change - Sugar Land, Texas
Showed up on time; provided professional, courteous, and Knowledgeable; Recommended A+

Kevin

24 years of experience
536 reviews
Request Kevin
Kevin
24 years of experience
Request Kevin
by Frank
BMW 325i L6-3.0L - Car is not starting - Atlanta, Georgia
Kevin Is likely the most knowledgeable technician to have ever worked on the car. It has always been serviced at a BMW franchised dealer. I highly recommend this pro!!!

Excellent Rating

(6,643)
Rating Summary
6,192
205
60
44
142
6,192
205
60
44
142
Number of BMW services completed
73073+
services done by our mechanics
TOTAL NUMBER OF EXPERT BMW MECHANICS
1100+
experts on our platform
Yourmechanic was featured in

New York Times NBC CBS Forbes INC Tech Crunch

Learn more about us

Recent articles & questions

5 Warning Lights You Should Never Ignore
Car warning lights tell you something in your car needs attention. If you see the Check Engine Light or other warnings, get it inspected right away.
Read more
How Long Does a Fog Light Switch Last?
When When driving at nighttime, your vision isn't the greatest, never mind if you're dealing with snow, fog, or rain. With all of this going on, sometimes your headlights just don’t seem like enough. That’s exactly why fog lights exist...
Read more
How to Put Racing Stripes on a Classic Car
Older Older cars or classic cars (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/how-to-buy-restore-and-sell-a-vintage-car-by-jason-unrau) have a lot of appeal because they represent bygone eras. Fresh paint (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/how-to-paint-a-car-yourself) is a great way to keep up the appearance of older vehicles, and a great way to show individual style....
Read more

Fuel leaking from my engine.

You must have a fuel line that is leaking. Diesel engines have very high fuel pressure. With the age of your vehicle it is very possible that you have a fuel line that has rusted through. This is a pretty...
Read more

Squealing coming from brake power booster/check valve?

Hello - your problem sounds like a failed vacuum or fresh air valve in the power brake booster, or possibly a ruptured diaphragm in the booster. And, you are correct that this failure will not lose brake fluid. I would...
Read more

Heat not coming out hot

This can be caused by the heater core having a partial blockage or by the temperature blend door on passenger side going to cold. You will need to have actuator checked first and then if it i moving door to...
Read more
  1. Home
  2. Estimates
  3. BMW
  4. 335i GT xDrive
  5. Brake Drum Replacement

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

Read FAQ
GET A QUOTE