BMW 535i GT 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 535i GT Brake Drum Replacement is $376 with $252 for parts and $123 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.

Car	Service	Estimate	Shop/Dealer Price
2016 BMW 535i GTL6-3.0L Turbo	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$654.21	Shop/Dealer Price$803.14 - $1198.75
2010 BMW 535i GTL6-3.0L Turbo	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$628.21	Shop/Dealer Price$777.18 - $1172.82
2013 BMW 535i GTL6-3.0L Turbo	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$628.21	Shop/Dealer Price$777.18 - $1172.81
2012 BMW 535i GTL6-3.0L Turbo	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$628.21	Shop/Dealer Price$777.13 - $1172.72
2017 BMW 535i GTL6-3.0L Turbo	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$841.87	Shop/Dealer Price$1034.51 - $1583.07
2015 BMW 535i GTL6-3.0L Turbo	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$628.21	Shop/Dealer Price$777.18 - $1172.81
2014 BMW 535i GTL6-3.0L Turbo	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$634.71	Shop/Dealer Price$783.37 - $1178.77
2011 BMW 535i GTL6-3.0L Turbo	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$634.71	Shop/Dealer Price$784.22 - $1180.25

Show example BMW 535i GT 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

(5)

Rating Summary

4

0

1

0

0

4

0

1

0

0

SEE REVIEWS NEAR ME

Manuel

32 years of experience

579 reviews

Manuel

32 years of experience

by Margaret

BMW 535i GT L6-3.0L Turbo - Water Pump Replacement - Yorba Linda, California

On time, efficient and my car runs great again!

Michael

27 years of experience

486 reviews

Request Michael

Michael

27 years of experience

Request Michael

by Marc

BMW 535i GT L6-3.0L Turbo - Spark Plugs - New River, Arizona

Mike dies great work. On time always. Understands my car and it's issues and fixes. Very knowledgable.

Moses

20 years of experience

26 reviews

Moses

20 years of experience

by DON

BMW 535i GT L6-3.0L Turbo - Oil Change - Surprise, Arizona

your man was on time pleasant and quick and I very much like your service at my home. However there were oil spill marks in my driveway and on sidewalk that he never brought to my attention, also i expected any future work necessary he would show me then not now via email. the suggestion of tire rotation is sillly since those tires have been on for 2 weeks . Not a deal breaker but i'll ask for william next time.

Manuel

32 years of experience

579 reviews

Manuel

32 years of experience

by Margaret

BMW 535i GT L6-3.0L Turbo - Oil Change - Yorba Linda, California

MANNY IS THE BEST! NOW MY NEIGHBOR IS GOING TO CHANGE HER SERVICE TO HIM....WE WILL GET THE WHOLE BLOCK SIGNED UP!

Excellent Rating

(5)

Rating Summary

4

0

1

0

0

4

0

1

0

0

SEE REVIEWS NEAR ME

Recent articles & questions

Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Emergency / Parking Brake Shoe

If your parking brake does not properly hold the vehicle or does not function at all, you may need to replace a parking brake shoe.

How Long Does a Turn Signal Bulb Last?

For For most drivers, staying safe while on the road is a top concern and something that they take very seriously. With all of the different features on a car that are designed to increase the safety of the driver,...

How to Build Weather Pack Connectors

Weather Weather pack connectors started off as a Delphi product and quickly became commonplace in the automotive world. Most wiring systems (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/how-long-do-wiring-harnesses-last) use weather pack connectors in their assembly due to their benefits when compared to standard connectors. Weather pack...

steering wheel shaking

Hi there. Thanks for writing into YourMechanic.com about the issue with your 2005 Suzuki Forenza. At first glance, it appears that the problem you're describing sounds like a misfire with one of the cylinders. It could be related to your...

High idling on cold start

Hi there thanks for writing in about your 2006 Lincoln Zephyr. This sounds like a failing idle air control valve issue (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/idle-control-valve-replacement). If this is confirmed, and the valve is replaced, there is also a 'relearning" process for the engine...

Car ran hot and now it will crank, but will not start.

Hi there. From the description you have provided, your vehicle will crank, but will not start, needs to be properly diagnosed. Replacing parts without diagnosing, can be costly and time consuming. The fact you got the engine to start after...

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