logo

BMW 440i 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 440i Brake Drum Replacement is $457 with $314 for parts and $142 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.

CarServiceEstimateShop/Dealer Price
2018 BMW 440iL6-3.0L TurboService typeBrake Drum ReplacementEstimate$823.68Shop/Dealer Price$997.74 - $1481.64
2017 BMW 440iL6-3.0L TurboService typeBrake Drum ReplacementEstimate$770.69Shop/Dealer Price$942.76 - $1425.19
2019 BMW 440iL6-3.0L TurboService typeBrake Drum ReplacementEstimate$789.68Shop/Dealer Price$963.76 - $1447.69
Show example BMW 440i 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

Jose

10 years of experience
285 reviews
Request Jose
Jose
10 years of experience
Request Jose
by David
BMW X3 L6-2.5L - Alternator - Saint Petersburg, Florida
Great mechanic!

PETE

22 years of experience
91 reviews
Request PETE
PETE
22 years of experience
Request PETE
by Ezekiel
BMW 328i L4-2.0L Turbo - Brake Pads Replacement (Front) - Wilmington, Delaware
He did a awesome job!

Rigoberto

11 years of experience
739 reviews
Request Rigoberto
Rigoberto
11 years of experience
Request Rigoberto
by Jason
BMW 325i L6-2.5L - Strut Assembly Replacement (Front) - Chicago, Illinois
I will never go to another mechanic again! I am so glad someone informed me of this website. He was on time, courteous and explained everything he did and even took pictures.

Jason

32 years of experience
518 reviews
Request Jason
Jason
32 years of experience
Request Jason
by David
BMW 325i L6-3.0L - Radiator - Redwood City, California
This man might have been the best mobile mechanic I've seen yet. He arrived with minutes to spare. My other mechanics on this website have been 1 hour later and some even cancel, but Jason didn't. Along with showing up early, he diagnosed the problem fast and began working. He was very friendly towards me and didn't mind me talking to him while he worked. He did everything right and completed the repair at and in efficient time. I will recommend Jason to any of my friends who needs a very knowledgeable mechanic!

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

How Long Does an Axle / CV Shaft Assembly Last?
Axle Axle shafts, or CV (constant velocity) shafts, are essentially long metal poles that connect the wheels of your car to the transmission gears, and allows the wheels to rotate. The transmission works to rotate the axle shafts, which in...
Read more
The Story of YourMechanic
Why Why YourMechanic began The car repair industry, as it has stood for over a hundred years, is often met with skepticism. Car owners who aren’t car experts (which, let’s face it, is most of us) rely on the honesty...
Read more
P0537 OBD-II Trouble Code: A/C Evaporator Temperature Sensor Circuit Low
P0537 means the evaporator core’s temperature dropped, lowering circuit resistance due to a faulty temperature sensor, expansion valve, or wiring.
Read more

Car is bucking while idling and occasionally stalls

You may have a cylinder that is misfiring or the EGR could be stuck open causing the rough idle. A computer check would show the cylinder that is misfiring or provide an EGR code. This test needs to be done...
Read more

When replacing the oil cooler do i need to put O rings on it as well? 2002 Dodge 3500 CummingsDiesel

Hi - yes, absolutely change the o-rings (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/symptoms-of-a-bad-or-failing-distributor-o-ring). They get brittle with heat and age, lose their resilience, and you have oil leaks. If you would like assistance with this task, I would recommend having the oil cooler replaced (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/oil-cooler-replacement)...
Read more

Can a leaking intake manifold cause surging on my 93 Chevy Silverado 1500

Hello. A leaking intake manifold gasket can definitely cause the vehicle to run like this. It will not only cause excessive amounts of air to enter the engine, but it will also cause the sensors to not read right. It...
Read more
  1. Home
  2. Estimates
  3. BMW
  4. 440i
  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