BMW 335i xDrive 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 335i xDrive Brake Drum Replacement is $373 with $231 for parts and $142 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.

Car	Service	Estimate	Shop/Dealer Price
2015 BMW 335i xDriveL6-3.0L Turbo	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$764.43	Shop/Dealer Price$938.66 - $1402.31
2014 BMW 335i xDriveL6-3.0L Turbo	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$734.43	Shop/Dealer Price$908.71 - $1372.39
2011 BMW 335i xDriveL6-3.0L Turbo	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$753.81	Shop/Dealer Price$932.93 - $1411.14
2009 BMW 335i xDriveL6-3.0L Turbo	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$604.09	Shop/Dealer Price$745.72 - $1111.60
2013 BMW 335i xDriveL6-3.0L Turbo	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$603.61	Shop/Dealer Price$745.22 - $1110.82
2012 BMW 335i xDriveL6-3.0L Turbo	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$647.21	Shop/Dealer Price$799.68 - $1197.94
2010 BMW 335i xDriveL6-3.0L Turbo	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$611.59	Shop/Dealer Price$752.92 - $1118.58

Show example BMW 335i 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

Meet some of our expert BMW mechanics

Real customer reviews from BMW owners like you.

Excellent Rating

(23)

Rating Summary

21

2

0

0

0

21

2

0

0

0

SEE REVIEWS NEAR ME

Richard

35 years of experience

96 reviews

Request Richard

Richard

35 years of experience

Request Richard

by Anthony

BMW 335i xDrive L6-3.0L Turbo - Air Injection Hose Replacement - Tampa, Florida

Super responsive, fast repair. Genuine recommendations and in my best interest even when i suggested otherwise at times. Will book with mobile mechanic again!

Christopher

20 years of experience

307 reviews

Request Christopher

Christopher

20 years of experience

Request Christopher

by Anthony

BMW 335i xDrive L6-3.0L Turbo - coolant bleed line - Tampa, Florida

on time and thorough

Mohammed

9 years of experience

152 reviews

Request Mohammed

Mohammed

9 years of experience

Request Mohammed

by Xavier

BMW 335i xDrive L6-3.0L Turbo - Oil Change - Raleigh, North Carolina

Great guy. Very knowledgeable!

Chris

22 years of experience

2229 reviews

Chris

22 years of experience

by Patrick

BMW 335i xDrive L6-3.0L Turbo - Brake Pads Replacement (Rear) - Laguna Hills, California

Chris did a great job in replacing my brakes and rotors. He finished the job in a timely manner, and helped me figure out other problems with my car. I highly recommend Chris.

Excellent Rating

(23)

Rating Summary

21

2

0

0

0

21

2

0

0

0

SEE REVIEWS NEAR ME

Recent articles & questions

How to Renew Your Car Registration in Mississippi

Registering Registering your car with the Mississippi Department of Revenue is very important. Without having your car registered properly, you will not be able to drive on the roadways legally. Each year, you will need to make sure that the...

How to Remove a Broken Car Key From the Ignition

After After many years of use, your car key may break off in the lock. When this happens, it renders the lock unusable until you can get the broken piece out. If your car was already locked when the key...

How to Get Smog Technician Certified in Pennsylvania

Automotive technician jobs include smog certified emissions inspectors. In Pennsylvania, you must attend a refresher course and pass a written test.

Brakes

There are several places where a malfunction can cause air to enter the hydraulic brake system. Of course, air can enter through a ruptured hose or brake line, but it can also enter through a faulty master cylinder, anti-lock brake...

How to remove spark plugs in 2012 Volkswagen Jetta

Hi there - replacing your spark plugs is fairly straightforward. First the engine cover is removed - this is the large plastic cover over the top of the engine which provides noise insulation as well as being decorative. Pull up...

Rattling sound from engine when AC unit is turned on

It sounds like you may have a faulty AC Compressor (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/ac-compressor-replacement) or potentially a leak in the AC lines somewhere. Car air conditioners work on a simple principle of heat transfer, relying on the fact that heat will always transfer...

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