Cadillac Catera 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 Cadillac Catera Brake Drum Replacement is $380 with $247 for parts and $133 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.

Car	Service	Estimate	Shop/Dealer Price
2001 Cadillac CateraV6-3.0L	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$655.11	Shop/Dealer Price$803.14 - $1192.11
1999 Cadillac CateraV6-3.0L	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$633.71	Shop/Dealer Price$783.43 - $1177.38
2000 Cadillac CateraV6-3.0L	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$633.71	Shop/Dealer Price$783.43 - $1177.38
1998 Cadillac CateraV6-3.0L	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$643.73	Shop/Dealer Price$795.90 - $1197.32
1997 Cadillac CateraV6-3.0L	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$643.73	Shop/Dealer Price$795.99 - $1197.49

Show example Cadillac Catera 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 Cadillac mechanics

Real customer reviews from Cadillac owners like you.

Excellent Rating

(15)

Rating Summary

15

0

0

0

0

15

0

0

0

0

SEE REVIEWS NEAR ME

Kenneth

10 years of experience

31 reviews

Request Kenneth

Kenneth

10 years of experience

Request Kenneth

by Joseph

Cadillac Catera V6-3.0L - Battery Terminal Ends - Midvale, Utah

Kenny was extremely professional and thorough in his work. I was told my alternator was bad by a shop and had booked the appointment for a replacement. Before Kenny went right into replacing it, he took the time to make sure it was the alternator. It turned out not being the alternator. He saved me over $150. He took the the time to teach me about my car and what he was doing to fix it. He gave great recommendations on how to maintain my car as well. I would recommend him and utilize his services again. Thanks Kenny!

Pardeep

21 years of experience

1121 reviews

Request Pardeep

Pardeep

21 years of experience

Request Pardeep

by David

Cadillac Catera V6-3.0L - Coolant is leaking - Campbell, California

I really enjoy working with Pardeep, he's always on time, courteous, professional, and is extremely knowledgeable. I will be placing a new quote for my painting van, and I look forward to his next visit. David Knapp

Joe

43 years of experience

827 reviews

Joe

43 years of experience

by Judith

Cadillac Catera V6-3.0L - Noise from engine or exhaust - Tarpon Springs, Florida

Very good experience.

Ralph

38 years of experience

187 reviews

Ralph

38 years of experience

by Ronald

Cadillac Catera V6-3.0L - Serpentine/Drive Belt Replacement - Auburn, Washington

Excellent service. Good work and took plenty of time to discuss problem and explain solution.

Excellent Rating

(15)

Rating Summary

15

0

0

0

0

15

0

0

0

0

SEE REVIEWS NEAR ME

Recent articles & questions

A Buyer’s Guide to the 2012 Ford Focus

The The 2012 Ford Focus brings a lot to the world of compact cars. Available as either a four-door sedan or a five-door hatchback, the Focus has great fuel efficiency and European styling that sets it apart from other cars...

New Hampshire Speed Limits, Laws, and Fines

Following Following is an overview of the laws, limits, and fines as they relate to speeding traffic violations in the state of New Hampshire. Speed limits in New Hampshire 70 mph: I-93 from mile marker 45 mph to the Vermont...

How to Get Mitsubishi Dealership Certified

Mitsubishi dealerships offer automotive technician jobs to mechanics who are ASE certified or have completed the UTI Automotive Technology program.

Lots of engine noise, car is too new to have this problem

The issue you are experiencing is the engine and transmission during a cold start and warm up cycle. Your driving experience until the engine warms up can be different than after it is warm. There is a manufacturer recall that...

Soft top button light stays on after battery replacement.

Hello, Typically after performing a battery change on your Mercedes Benz, you will need to re-sync the connection between the windows, the convertible top and the computer. This will allow it to know their exact positioning, and in turn allowing...

Loss of power, likes to run hot and occassionally get close to overheating

Most importantly, you need to understand, that when the engine overheats and the coolant level gets low, the sensor that relays the temperature to the gauge is reading the temperature of the air in the engine. The sensor normally reads...

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