Dodge Ram 50 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

(13)

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.

Customer Ratings

(13)

Brake Drum Replacement Service

How much does a Brake Drum Replacement cost?

On average, the cost for a Dodge Ram 50 Brake Drum Replacement is $339 with $159 for parts and $180 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.

CarServiceEstimateShop/Dealer Price
1986 Dodge Ram 50L4-2.6LService typeBrake Drum ReplacementEstimate$662.11Shop/Dealer Price$771.40 - $1031.76
1984 Dodge Ram 50L4-2.6LService typeBrake Drum ReplacementEstimate$516.94Shop/Dealer Price$620.09 - $886.71
1983 Dodge Ram 50L4-2.0LService typeBrake Drum ReplacementEstimate$621.14Shop/Dealer Price$750.34 - $1095.11
1991 Dodge Ram 50L4-2.4LService typeBrake Drum ReplacementEstimate$748.63Shop/Dealer Price$894.53 - $1264.76
1985 Dodge Ram 50L4-2.6LService typeBrake Drum ReplacementEstimate$602.11Shop/Dealer Price$711.50 - $971.93
1990 Dodge Ram 50L4-2.4LService typeBrake Drum ReplacementEstimate$748.63Shop/Dealer Price$894.60 - $1264.88
1984 Dodge Ram 50L4-2.0LService typeBrake Drum ReplacementEstimate$630.64Shop/Dealer Price$759.58 - $1104.16
1989 Dodge Ram 50L4-2.6LService typeBrake Drum ReplacementEstimate$651.97Shop/Dealer Price$770.73 - $1057.81
Show example Dodge Ram 50 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 Dodge mechanics

Real customer reviews from Dodge owners like you.

Excellent Rating

(13)

Rating Summary
13
0
0
0
0
13
0
0
0
0

Alexander

29 years of experience
45 reviews
Alexander
29 years of experience
Dodge Ram 50 L4-2.0L - Car is not starting - Los Altos, California
He was able to come a day early he was quick and proffessional

Scott

36 years of experience
902 reviews
Scott
36 years of experience
Dodge Caliber L4-2.0L - Brake Drum - Chandler, Arizona
Good guy. Fast. No problems

Kyle

20 years of experience
20 reviews
Kyle
20 years of experience
Dodge Caliber L4-2.0L - Brake Drum - Lake Villa, Illinois

Raymond

37 years of experience
412 reviews
Raymond
37 years of experience
Dodge Dakota V6-3.9L - Brake Drum - Las Vegas, Nevada
Great mechanic great work.

Excellent Rating

(13)

Rating Summary
13
0
0
0
0
13
0
0
0
0
Number of Dodge Brake Drum Replacement services completed
143+
services done by our mechanics
TOTAL NUMBER OF EXPERT Dodge MECHANICS
1400+
experts on our platform

Recent articles & questions

10 Best Stores to Buy Auto Parts in West Palm Beach, Florida
Automotive technicians rely on auto parts stores to add and replace car parts. The best auto parts shop in West Palm Beach is Advance Auto Parts.
How to Replace a Radiator Fan Motor on Most Cars
The fan motor on the radiator fails when the engine overheats and the fan does not activate. This means that the coolant cannot cool the engine well.
How to Replace a Car Track Bar
Replacing a track bar involves lifting the car in the air and using a wrench to tighten the bar at the correct torque specification.

I have a front right air suspension problem. The air strut will not raise when the car starts up.

This suspension system on your vehicle uses hydraulic fluid that supports the vehicle and different valves to control the active suspension. The right front unit showing any signs of leakage on the boot should be replaced. This vehicle may be...

Vibrating steering wheel, schreeching brakes

You may have hit a pot hole when you went off the road and damaged the tire internal cords. This will cause a wobble feeling. If the tire is okay (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/how-to-check-if-your-tires-are-in-good-condition), then your wheel weights may have been knocked off...

Trouble code P0607 Engine Control Module & P0138 Oxygen Sensor Circuit

Replacing an engine control module should never be a first step. There are a number of other problems that can give a PO607 trouble code (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/p0607-obd-ii-trouble-code-control-module-performance-by-brady-klopfer). First the battery voltage should be checked, and if the engine is running, the...

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