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Frequently asked questions about cars and motorcycles

How to Install or Replace Brake Drums and Shoes

Model: Ford Focus MK 1 - Years 1998-2004
Part: Brake drums and shoes

If you have a Ford Focus and want to replace the brake drums and shoes, this tutorial can help you. Secure the vehicle on a ramp and remove the rear wheel. Using a chisel and hammer, remove the dust cap protecting the hub, then, with a 30 mm socket and a breaker bar, undo and remove the nut that secures the drum, then pull the drum off. Use pliers to detach the springs. Use a screwdriver to free the shoes. Again with pliers, remove the clip that secures them. Take new shoes and install them in the same manner as the ones you replaced, remembering to attach the springs. Clean the rust and dirt off the drum with a wire brush. Lubricate the shoes and then install them as they were before. With the pliers, reattach the securing clip and reconnect the springs. Refit the drum, insert and tighten the hub nut with the 30 mm socket; replace the dust cap, using a few taps of the hammer if necessary. Refit the wheel and perform a small bedding-in process by pressing the brake pedal with the vehicle stationary.

Updated on 8 February 2026 by ScegliAuto

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by ScegliAuto

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