rear brake backing plate

actually, i am posting this as a heads up for everyone else. i have been under my truck trying to remove the fuel tank, and noticed that the rear brake backing plate, that the parking brake hardware anchor to, is rotted about 1/4th of the way OFF! i am not talkin just rusty, i mean GONE! the other side has a line in it about a 1/4" wide x 3-4" in length where a hole has rusted thru it. so next time you crawl under your vehicle, give them a peek. i rather doubt this will be anything except a dealer part. when i get to doing the repair, i will post part numbers and prices.

actually, i am posting this as a heads up for everyone else. i have been under my truck trying to remove the fuel tank, and noticed that the rear brake backing plate, that the parking brake hardware anchor to, is rotted about 1/4th of the way OFF! i am not talkin just rusty, i mean GONE! the other side has a line in it about a 1/4" wide x 3-4" in length where a hole has rusted thru it. so next time you crawl under your vehicle, give them a peek. i rather doubt this will be anything except a dealer part. when i get to doing the repair, i will post part numbers and prices.


Yeah, mine have been gone for a year or two now, all that is left is the part of the plate where the e-brake connects to.....I'm never going to bother replacing them either. My Jimmy has 195,xxx miles on it and I'm not planning on keeping for more than another year so why bother :)

That might effect braking performance if the drum fills up with ice and snow. Also the emergency brake might fail on ya.

That might effect braking performance if the drum fills up with ice and snow. Also the emergency brake might fail on ya.


THey are rear disc brakes not drum....I hear ya though...But they have been like that for 2 years and I have yet to have a problem...I only use the emergency brake once a year and that is during the state inspection. I'll take my chances at this point :)

The backing plates are made by Dorman and come in a box of 2. http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detail/DOR6/924209.oap?ck=Search_924-209_-1_3362&keyword=924-209 Far better quality than OEM too.

The axles must be removed to replace the plates, and you might as well figure on replacing all of the parking brake hardware, shoes, and the adjusters. If you live in the "rust belt", the differential cover usually rusts out too. Dorman makes that as well, galvanized! You'll need to know the diameter of the ring gear when ordering the cover, 7.625" or 8.5" Not a bad job, only takes a couple hours.

REALLY?! the ring gear cover rusts out?!? wow, did they get the metal straight from the steel scrap yard, and use it as is? hard to imagine that a piece of metal that has hot oil on one side of it can rust through. but i am sure you have seen it. amazing.

Yup, been there several times, including on my OWN! Lucky it didn't rust through going down the road. Big chunks of rust just flaked off when I removed it. Inside was nice and shiny, but the outside was nothing but rust. Could have easily poked a hole with a screwdriver... or a rock! Something to think about ;)