Saturn LS Brake Drum Replacement Costs

Car	Service	Estimate	Shop/Dealer Price
2000 Saturn LSL4-2.2L	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$643.10	Shop/Dealer Price$762.63 - $1071.72

Car

Service

Estimate

Shop/Dealer Price

2000 Saturn LSL4-2.2L

Service typeBrake Drum Replacement

Estimate$643.10

Shop/Dealer Price$762.63 - $1071.72

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.

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Richard

11 years of experience

450 reviews

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by Tyrell

Saturn LS L4-2.2L - Coolant is leaking - Odenton, Maryland

Great Service! He was knowledgeable about what my issue was and provided me with the help that I needed.

Oscar

24 years of experience

72 reviews

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Saturn LS L4-2.2L - Car is not starting - Odenton, Maryland

Oscar was very professional and knowledgeable about cars. He let me know exactly what was wrong with my car. I had been told my fuel pump was bad which is why my car wouldn't start. Well turns out that wasn't the case at all. Oscar found that it was a broken timing chain was the reason for my car not starting. I'm glad I found that out before shelling out unnecessary money on something that wasn't broken at all. All in all Great service across the board and I would highly recommend Oscar for any auto needs.

Manuel

32 years of experience

579 reviews

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by Michael

Saturn L100 L4-2.2L - Brake Drum - Mission Viejo, California

Very pleased with the service and ease of use. Manuel was on time and pleasant to work with. He kept me informed throughout the process and showed me what would be replaced with new parts. After test driving the vehicle, he recommended future service. I would definitely recommend him to anyone.

Enrique

21 years of experience

244 reviews

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by Penny

Saturn SL1 L4-1.9L - Brake Drum - Kissimmee, Florida

It's great to have your own mechanic and Enrique is a professional. He shows up on time, promptly gets to the job you've shceduled and completes it quickly. He then takes the car for a test run to make sure he's done the job in the best way possible. He's friendly, polite and knows his cars - couldn't ask for better service! So happy I found Your Mechanic! In the past I would take the car in and sometimes have to leave it because they couldn't get to my car with all the others ahead of it. Love the ease of being able to schedule Enrique and know he'll show up and get the job done and I'll be driving my car again in a few hours! And I don't have to drop it off or wait in a waiting room for it.

Saturn LS Brake Drum Replacement at your home or office.

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Brake Drum Replacement Service

How much does a Brake Drum Replacement cost?

On average, the cost for a Saturn LS Brake Drum Replacement is $404 with $195 for parts and $209 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.

What are brake drums and how do they work?

When to consider replacing brake drums:

How do mechanics replace brake drums?

Is it safe to drive with a brake drum problem?

When replacing brake drums keep in mind:

Meet some of our expert Saturn mechanics

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