Chevrolet S10 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 Chevrolet S10 Brake Drum Replacement is $375 with $166 for parts and $209 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.

Car	Service	Estimate	Shop/Dealer Price
1995 Chevrolet S10L4-2.2L	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$695.78	Shop/Dealer Price$822.85 - $1147.83
1988 Chevrolet S10L4-2.5L	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$540.76	Shop/Dealer Price$645.75 - $911.11
1993 Chevrolet S10V6-4.3L	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$617.28	Shop/Dealer Price$741.39 - $1064.15
1996 Chevrolet S10L4-2.2L	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$645.78	Shop/Dealer Price$772.84 - $1097.80
2001 Chevrolet S10L4-2.2L	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$645.78	Shop/Dealer Price$772.93 - $1097.97
1984 Chevrolet S10L4-1.9L	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$540.76	Shop/Dealer Price$645.74 - $911.11
1999 Chevrolet S10L4-2.2L	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$658.28	Shop/Dealer Price$785.05 - $1109.81
1998 Chevrolet S10Electric	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$658.28	Shop/Dealer Price$785.99 - $1111.44

Show example Chevrolet S10 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 Chevrolet mechanics

Real customer reviews from Chevrolet owners like you.

Excellent Rating

(315)

Rating Summary

294

10

3

1

7

294

10

3

1

7

SEE REVIEWS NEAR ME

Mazyar

8 years of experience

477 reviews

Mazyar

8 years of experience

by Tamara

Chevrolet S10 V6-4.3L - Brake Pads Replacement (Front) - Atlanta, Georgia

Best experience! Mark is kind, honest, and committed to excellent service. I will definitely be giving him all my automotive repairs.

Bobby

27 years of experience

88 reviews

Bobby

27 years of experience

by Tasha

Chevrolet S10 V6-4.3L - Distributor Cap and Rotor Replacement - Charlotte, North Carolina

Bobby F. explained in details what was causes the issues to my Chev S-10. Bobby is an expert in this field. I have used this service twice and have been completely satisfied with the results. I'm a happy customer, 100 percent, and will recommend you to family, friends, and even strangers. Thank you, Tasha

Robert

23 years of experience

253 reviews

Robert

23 years of experience

by Thomas

Chevrolet S10 V6-4.3L - Car is not starting Inspection - New Caney, Texas

Robert is by far the most honest mechanic I have ever met.He got right to the main problems, didn't try to upsell unnecessary services, and warned me about upcoming issues I need to fix.He also physically showed me the issues and gave me pointers on repairing and replacing the part myself to save money and time! I will DEFINITELY request him for future services!

Joe

43 years of experience

823 reviews

Joe

43 years of experience

by Bob

Chevrolet S10 L4-2.2L - remove after alarm switch - Tampa, Florida

Joe is a great guy very good mechanic very friendly very professional

Excellent Rating

(315)

Rating Summary

294

10

3

1

7

294

10

3

1

7

SEE REVIEWS NEAR ME

Recent articles & questions

Can I Use Synthetic Motor Oil in My Brand New Car?

Changing oil on time will help protect your engine from damage. Synthetic motor oil will likely work, and may actually be required, in your new car.

How Long Does an Exhaust System Hanger Last?

Your Your exhaust system takes quite a beating while it is suspended under your car. Think about it - you're traveling at high speeds, over bumps, through unfavorable road conditions, and much more. If it wasn't properly affixed to the...

How to Find Replacement Car Parts at a Junkyard

Buying used replacement parts can save you a lot of money on repair costs. Cars in junkyards are totaled but still have usable and working parts.

22-gallon tank will only fill to 10 gallons

The fuel level sensor (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/fuel-pressure-sensor-replacement) may be experiencing a malfunction especially if there have not been any performance concerns. Unfortunately, it is inside the fuel tank and must be removed to examine the contacts. This is common among many year...

Check engine light and car idles low/runs differently

This may be related to a dirty or failing idle air control valve. The idle air control valve reads the air intake as it is mixed with fuel prior to being injected into the engine at low speeds and at...

Fiero GT VERY difficult to move shifter from any position. 1986 Pontiac Fiero

Hello - your Fiero uses rather long cables for the shifter linkage (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/symptoms-of-a-bad-or-failing-shift-selector-cable), and several pivot mechanisms that are potentially very stiff if they have not been cleaned and lubed in recent history. Cold weather also makes cable action stiff...

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