I need to change the brake shoes on a 1998 Ford Escort.

with the wheel off, it looks like this

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm73/100-percent/Picture205.jpg

or closer

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm73/100-percent/Picture206.jpg

To be honest, I was expecting 2 little screws to undo and the drum to just
come off.  At the moment, its not budging. The 4 bolts you see are free and
I'm wondering if this is a new type where I have to remove the hub bearing
nut in the center.

I heared that some are "integral" with the wheel nut ??

bit like this type here

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm73/100-percent/62d9_1.jpg

So, its either that, or its just tight on the plate where the 4 bolts are.
I know the obvious is to take off the center bolt and see if it frees it ,
but I dont want to nake matters worse or remove something unnecessary , plus
I dont have the 30mm socket I would need, so I dont want to buy one unless I
really had to .

Anyone here done one of these escort drums before ?

ho hum wrote:

> I need to change the brake shoes on a 1998 Ford Escort.
> 
> with the wheel off, it looks like this
> 
> http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm73/100-percent/Picture205.jpg
> 
> or closer
> 
> http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm73/100-percent/Picture206.jpg
> 
> To be honest, I was expecting 2 little screws to undo and the drum to just
> come off.  At the moment, its not budging. The 4 bolts you see are free
> and I'm wondering if this is a new type where I have to remove the hub
> bearing nut in the center.
> 
> I heared that some are "integral" with the wheel nut ??
> 
> bit like this type here
> 
> http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm73/100-percent/62d9_1.jpg
> 
> So, its either that, or its just tight on the plate where the 4 bolts are.
> I know the obvious is to take off the center bolt and see if it frees it ,
> but I dont want to nake matters worse or remove something unnecessary ,
> plus I dont have the 30mm socket I would need, so I dont want to buy one
> unless I really had to .
> 
> Anyone here done one of these escort drums before ?

If you look from under the vehicle at the brake back plate, you will see
four bolts with 13mm heads. Undo these, and the whole drum and hub assembly
come away. This gives you easy access to the shoes, and avoids disturbing
the bearings.

This method is the one advocated by both Haynes, and Ford TIS.

HTH

Chris

-- 
Remove prejudice to reply.

"ho hum"  wrote in message 
news:6%Xgk.48959$7B3.34713@newsfe30.ams2...
>I need to change the brake shoes on a 1998 Ford Escort.
>
> with the wheel off, it looks like this
>
> http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm73/100-percent/Picture205.jpg
>
> or closer
>
> http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm73/100-percent/Picture206.jpg
>
> To be honest, I was expecting 2 little screws to undo and the drum to just
> come off.  At the moment, its not budging. The 4 bolts you see are free 
> and
> I'm wondering if this is a new type where I have to remove the hub bearing
> nut in the center.

The shoes are holding it on. Back off the shoe adjuster behind the drum and 
then give it a few goods whacks on the rim with a hammer. It should just 
fall off.
-- 
Dave Baker

"Dave Baker"  wrote
>
> The shoes are holding it on. Back off the shoe adjuster behind the drum
> and then give it a few goods whacks on the rim with a hammer. It should
> just fall off.


I thought that, but the wheel is spinning freely.  It does have that rubber
plug on the back that allows access to the adjuster, so it wont do any harm
in trying, but I thought you only had to back off the adjuster until the
wheel could spin ?

"Chris Whelan"  wrote
>
> If you look from under the vehicle at the brake back plate, you will see
> four bolts with 13mm heads. Undo these, and the whole drum and hub
> assembly
> come away. This gives you easy access to the shoes, and avoids disturbing
> the bearings.
>
> This method is the one advocated by both Haynes, and Ford TIS.

I dont think there are 4 bolts?  I'll take a picture later of the rear and
post a link for you to see.

"ho hum"  wrote in message 
news:Kp_gk.31979$X72.6081@newsfe29.ams2...
>
> "Dave Baker"  wrote
>>
>> The shoes are holding it on. Back off the shoe adjuster behind the drum
>> and then give it a few goods whacks on the rim with a hammer. It should
>> just fall off.
>
>
> I thought that, but the wheel is spinning freely.  It does have that 
> rubber
> plug on the back that allows access to the adjuster, so it wont do any 
> harm
> in trying, but I thought you only had to back off the adjuster until the
> wheel could spin ?

Not if the shoes are in a wear lip in an old drum and a bit of rust sticking 
things together for good measure. 30 years ago I was a callow youth trying 
to remove my first set of brake drums off my Morris Marina outside my 
uncle's garage in Derbyshire. I got the first wheel off, backed the shoes 
off, the drum was rotating freely but no matter how I pulled and levered at 
it I couldn't budge it. Just then a wizened old man walking his dog came by 
and paused to watch me sweating.
"Avin trouble lad?" he asked. "Yeah", I said "I don't know what's still 
holding this drum on."
"Nowt but ignorance lad" he opined and asked me to get a big hammer. I found 
a claw hammer which he looked at distainfully. "Nay lad, a big 'ammer." So I 
went back into the garage and found a 4lb lump hammer which he seemed to 
approve of. "Now giv't drum a few whacks onth side wi that" he suggested.

I tapped at it tentatively a few times afraid I'd break something. He tutted 
and sucked air in through his teeth. "Gi'it me lad" he said and proceeded to 
beat seven types of crap out of the rim of the drum, turning it the while, 
while I looked on in horror expecting it to shatter into a thousand pieces 
any second. "Now try it lad" he said and it just fell off into my hands when 
I pulled at it.

He wandered off with his dog and I found the second drum a much easier 
proposition with my new found knowledge. It was 20 years later before I 
finally twigged what "nowt but ignorance" had meant which I didn't 
understand at the time and wasn't sure if I'd heard correctly. He was quite 
right though.
-- 
Dave Baker

On Jul 21, 12:28 pm, "ho hum"  wrote:
> "Dave Baker"  wrote
>
>
>
> > The shoes are holding it on. Back off the shoe adjuster behind the drum
> > and then give it a few goods whacks on the rim with a hammer. It should
> > just fall off.
>
> I thought that, but the wheel is spinning freely.  It does have that rubber
> plug on the back that allows access to the adjuster, so it wont do any harm
> in trying, but I thought you only had to back off the adjuster until the
> wheel could spin ?

Not if the drum has worn. If the shoes have worn the drum then there
will be a ridge which is why you have to back the adjuster off even
more.

--
Malc

"Dave Baker"  wrote in message 
news:g61u4e$gpl$1@news.datemas.de...
>
> "ho hum"  wrote in message 
> news:Kp_gk.31979$X72.6081@newsfe29.ams2...
>>
>> "Dave Baker"  wrote
>>>
>>> The shoes are holding it on. Back off the shoe adjuster behind the drum
>>> and then give it a few goods whacks on the rim with a hammer. It should
>>> just fall off.
>>
>>
>> I thought that, but the wheel is spinning freely.  It does have that 
>> rubber
>> plug on the back that allows access to the adjuster, so it wont do any 
>> harm
>> in trying, but I thought you only had to back off the adjuster until the
>> wheel could spin ?
>
> Not if the shoes are in a wear lip in an old drum and a bit of rust 
> sticking things together for good measure. 30 years ago I was a callow 
> youth trying to remove my first set of brake drums off my Morris Marina 
> outside my uncle's garage in Derbyshire. I got the first wheel off, backed 
> the shoes off, the drum was rotating freely but no matter how I pulled and 
> levered at it I couldn't budge it. Just then a wizened old man walking his 
> dog came by and paused to watch me sweating.
> "Avin trouble lad?" he asked. "Yeah", I said "I don't know what's still 
> holding this drum on."
> "Nowt but ignorance lad" he opined and asked me to get a big hammer. I 
> found a claw hammer which he looked at distainfully. "Nay lad, a big 
> 'ammer." So I went back into the garage and found a 4lb lump hammer which 
> he seemed to approve of. "Now giv't drum a few whacks onth side wi that" 
> he suggested.
>
> I tapped at it tentatively a few times afraid I'd break something. He 
> tutted and sucked air in through his teeth. "Gi'it me lad" he said and 
> proceeded to beat seven types of crap out of the rim of the drum, turning 
> it the while, while I looked on in horror expecting it to shatter into a 
> thousand pieces any second. "Now try it lad" he said and it just fell off 
> into my hands when I pulled at it.
>
> He wandered off with his dog and I found the second drum a much easier 
> proposition with my new found knowledge. It was 20 years later before I 
> finally twigged what "nowt but ignorance" had meant which I didn't 
> understand at the time and wasn't sure if I'd heard correctly. He was 
> quite right though.
> -- 

Haha. When I was training as a mechanic back in the late 80s, I started 
working in a small local garage run by a mate of my grans. One Saturday 
morning a woman brought in an old mini for new shoes - a pre arranged 
emergency job. She was stood there watching as my boss did exactly the same 
to her "baby" with a look of horror on her face :-)

Mike P

ho hum wrote:

> 
> "Chris Whelan"  wrote
>>
>> If you look from under the vehicle at the brake back plate, you will see
>> four bolts with 13mm heads. Undo these, and the whole drum and hub
>> assembly
>> come away. This gives you easy access to the shoes, and avoids disturbing
>> the bearings.
>>
>> This method is the one advocated by both Haynes, and Ford TIS.
> 
> I dont think there are 4 bolts?  I'll take a picture later of the rear and
> post a link for you to see.

If there are not four bolts as I've described, then it must be an Escort
van!

Chris

-- 
Remove prejudice to reply.

In article , Mike P says...

> Haha. When I was training as a mechanic back in the late 80s, I started 
> working in a small local garage run by a mate of my grans. One Saturday 
> morning a woman brought in an old mini for new shoes - a pre arranged 
> emergency job. She was stood there watching as my boss did exactly the same 
> to her "baby" with a look of horror on her face :-)
> 
Indeed. The smallest hammer in my toolbox is a 2.5lb ballpein job. 
Anything less than that is completely worthless in automotive 
mechanics.

You can either hammer at it all day with a claw hammer and get nowhere 
or give it a twat with a 5lb lump hammer and have it come off first 
time. 

When it comes to hammers, the goldern rule is "bigger the blob, better 
the job."


-- 
Conor

I only please one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow isn't 
looking good either. - Scott Adams

"Conor"  wrote in message 
news:6eji7nF7cr8fU1@mid.individual.net...
> In article , Mike P says...
>
>> Haha. When I was training as a mechanic back in the late 80s, I started
>> working in a small local garage run by a mate of my grans. One Saturday
>> morning a woman brought in an old mini for new shoes - a pre arranged
>> emergency job. She was stood there watching as my boss did exactly the 
>> same
>> to her "baby" with a look of horror on her face :-)
>>
> Indeed. The smallest hammer in my toolbox is a 2.5lb ballpein job.
> Anything less than that is completely worthless in automotive
> mechanics.
>
> You can either hammer at it all day with a claw hammer and get nowhere
> or give it a twat with a 5lb lump hammer and have it come off first
> time.
>
> When it comes to hammers, the goldern rule is "bigger the blob, better
> the job."
>

The other rule was - "if it's stuck hit it with a big hammer. If it breaks, 
replace it cos it was fucked anyway.." ;-)

Mike P

Conor wrote:
> In article , Mike P says...
>
>> Haha. When I was training as a mechanic back in the late 80s, I
>> started working in a small local garage run by a mate of my grans.
>> One Saturday morning a woman brought in an old mini for new shoes -
>> a pre arranged emergency job. She was stood there watching as my
>> boss did exactly the same to her "baby" with a look of horror on her
>> face :-)
>>
> Indeed. The smallest hammer in my toolbox is a 2.5lb ballpein job.
> Anything less than that is completely worthless in automotive
> mechanics.
>
> You can either hammer at it all day with a claw hammer and get nowhere
> or give it a twat with a 5lb lump hammer and have it come off first
> time.
>
> When it comes to hammers, the goldern rule is "bigger the blob, better
> the job."

Trouble is that for the OP the big hammer will NOT help as the drum and 
bearing holder are all one piece.

"Conor"  wrote in message 
news:6eji7nF7cr8fU1@mid.individual.net...
> In article , Mike P says...
>
>> Haha. When I was training as a mechanic back in the late 80s, 
>> I started
>> working in a small local garage run by a mate of my grans. One 
>> Saturday
>> morning a woman brought in an old mini for new shoes - a pre 
>> arranged
>> emergency job. She was stood there watching as my boss did 
>> exactly the same
>> to her "baby" with a look of horror on her face :-)
>>
> Indeed. The smallest hammer in my toolbox is a 2.5lb ballpein 
> job.
> Anything less than that is completely worthless in automotive
> mechanics.

That is simply not true.
It's better to use different hammers for different jobs.
I have a range. An 8oz crosspein, a 1lb ballpein, a 2.51b 
ballpein and a club hammer. I use them all, but the one most 
frequently used is the 1lb ballpein. For most jobs anything 
heavier is OTT. Where only a relatively light tap is req'd a 1lb 
hammer is ideal, as the strength of the impact is more 
controllable.

> You can either hammer at it all day with a claw hammer and get 
> nowhere
> or give it a twat with a 5lb lump hammer and have it come off 
> first
> time.
>
> When it comes to hammers, the goldern rule is "bigger the blob, 
> better
> the job."

"If at first you don't succed, get a bigger hammer" might be true 
for some jobs, but most require a more intelligent solution.
Mike.

"Chris Whelan"  wrote

> If there are not four bolts as I've described, then it must be an Escort
> van!
>
> Chris

Hi Chris

is this the bolts you mean ?

Does it look to you like there is one of the top 2 bolts missing here ???

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm73/100-percent/Picture207.jpg

ho hum wrote:
> "Chris Whelan"  wrote
>
>> If there are not four bolts as I've described, then it must be an
>> Escort van!
>>
>> Chris
>
> Hi Chris
>
> is this the bolts you mean ?
>
> Does it look to you like there is one of the top 2 bolts missing here
> ???
> http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm73/100-percent/Picture207.jpg

The 4 big bolts are the ones to undo, they look as though they are 17mm in 
your case.

The missing upper bolt are the ones that retain the wheel cylinder to the 
backplate.  If both the holes are available and threaded then there should 
be a bolt in each.

Mrcheerful

ho hum wrote:

> 
> "Chris Whelan"  wrote
> 
>> If there are not four bolts as I've described, then it must be an Escort
>> van!
>>
>> Chris
> 
> Hi Chris
> 
> is this the bolts you mean ?
> 
> Does it look to you like there is one of the top 2 bolts missing here ???
> 
> http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm73/100-percent/Picture207.jpg

Yep. 

What Mr Cheerful said.

<Thinks: How does Mr C ever get to do any work? He always helping someone
here!>

Chris

-- 
Remove prejudice to reply.

Chris Whelan wrote:
> ho hum wrote:
>
>>
>> "Chris Whelan"  wrote
>>
>>> If there are not four bolts as I've described, then it must be an
>>> Escort van!
>>>
>>> Chris
>>
>> Hi Chris
>>
>> is this the bolts you mean ?
>>
>> Does it look to you like there is one of the top 2 bolts missing
>> here ???
>>
>> http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm73/100-percent/Picture207.jpg
>
> Yep.
>
> What Mr Cheerful said.
>
> <Thinks: How does Mr C ever get to do any work? He always helping
> someone here!>
>
> Chris

I have just spent several days welding up an old carlton estate for a 
customer, it wasn't really worth doing, but the customer decided it was 
better the devil you know.......

So I do work some of the time, just not all the time!!!!

Mrcheerful