How to Change the Rear Brake Shoes and Drums on a 2011-2015 Chevy Cruze

Park on a level surface, and leave your parking brake off. If the parking brake is engaged, your brake drums will likely be stuck or difficult to remove. Remove the wheel cover, if equipped, then use a lug wrench or 19mm socket and breaker bar to loosen the lug nuts on the rear wheels.

Chock the front wheels, then use a jack and jack stands to lift and support the rear end of the car. Remove the rear wheels.

On the side where you’ll be working first, remove the brake drum. There is likely a screw in place on the brake drum that secures it to the axle, which will need to be removed. You may also need to tap the drum with a hammer to release it from the shoes if it is rusted to the axle or lug studs.

With the drum removed, it’s a good idea to snap a photo of the assembly, so that you’ll have a reference when it’s time to put it all back together.

Use a hook, pliers, or a screwdriver to disengage the hook end of the adjuster spring toward the top of the assembly from the adjuster actuator lever.

Release the adjuster actuator lever from the adjuster assembly, then remove the adjuster assembly.

Remove the brake retainer springs by using your pliers or drum brake spring tool and twisting the caps to the release position.

Remove the lower spring and the front brake shoe.

Now remove the parking brake cable from the parking brake lever to disengage and remove the rear brake shoe.

Start reassembly by attaching the parking brake cable to the parking brake lever.

Insert the new lower brake spring into the appropriate hole of the forward brake shoe, then install the brake shoes to the backing plate.

Insert the new retaining pins through the rear of the brake backing plate, then use your brake spring tool or pliers to compress the retaining springs and caps and turn them to the locked position.

At this point, make sure the adjuster is turned in as far as possible. Now install the adjuster assembly to the adjuster actuator lever.

Now install the adjuster spring. Make sure that the loop end of the spring is fully seated on the actuator lever tab.

Check your newly installed parts with the picture you took before disassembly to ensure everything looks like it’s back in the right place, and ensure that the new shoes are contacting the appropriate guides and the wheel cylinder.

Use calipers to measure the inside of the brake drum at its widest point. Lock the calipers at this measurement using the set screw, if equipped. This measurement will be used to set the spread and width of the brake shoes using the adjuster. Hold the caliper in the locked position over the widest point of the brake shoes, and turn the adjuster to spread the shoes out to get them closer to the measured width.

Adjust the star wheel and test fit the brake drum until you feel a slight drag. If you are unable to install the drum over the shoes at all, back the adjuster off to compress the shoes and start over, adjusting it out slightly until the drum can be installed and mild drag is achieved.

Before installing a new brake drum, use brake cleaner and a shop towel or rag to clean the friction surface of any cutting oils. Once the brake drum is reinstalled, you can also install the brake drum retaining screw you removed earlier.

Reinstall the wheels on each side and tighten the lug nuts until they’re snug.

Lower the rear end and remove the wheel chocks.wheels on each side and tighten the lug nuts until they’re snug.

Use a torque wrench and 19mm socket to torque the lug nuts in a star pattern to 100 foot-pounds. Reinstall the wheel cover, if applicable.