Replacing Rear Brakes

Hi all,

I have been reading through this forum, and it is great. Very knowledgable people, and some great info.

I have a quick question. How difficult is it to replace the brake pads on a 98 2WD Rodeo? I know it has drums on the rear, correct?

I have ordered the Chilton manual for my car, because I want to start learning how to do some of this stuff on my own,...and I was wondering if I would be able to do the rear pad replacement. Initially, I thought I would be dealing with discs, but it looks like on the 2wd Rodeos, they are drums.

Thanks in advance for any tips / help.

Jim

Not all 4x2s have drums. I have discs all the way around. Drums aren't hard. You just have to make sure you do one at a time or have a picture available for reference when you put it back together.

Hi Surfer,

Thanks for the reply. I'm pretty sure they are drums,...when I look in between the wheel, I can see the drum unlike the front, where I can see the rotor.

Do I need any special tools? Or does anyone have any tips / "do's" / or "don't do's" ? Thanks again ;)


Jim

if it has drum brakes and you need to replace the shoes you're gonna need a spring tool and you may as well replace the cylanders while you're down there. also when bleeding be very careful as the bleeder blolt is very delicate and will snap if you dont hit it with some pb blaster and let it sit for a while...if you snap one...good luck on finding a replacement!!! and hope to have a dealer local. everywhere i went to get replacements everyone had no idea what i needed and when they did...it was the wrong size. also make sure yours isnt set up like on the 97's with a pad shoe combo...with the ebrake being the shoes. it will look like a rotor but its more like a drum with rotor like features.

Ouch....that sounds a little intimidating.....The term "bleeding" that you are using, is that when you back off the shoes from the drum in order to remove it? Or does it have to do with the ABS at all?

Most of the manuals cut off at the 1997, and there is another manual for the 98-02. I think, from what I have read, the '98 has a standard drum system in the back.

The spring tool shouldn't be a problem.


To think,.....I thought it would just be: Remove the old ones, slap on the new ones...It's sounding more and more complicated. I was hoping not to have to take it in and save a little money, plus start a new learning adventure ;)

Jim

Bleding the brakes refers to the process of getting old brake fluid out of the brake lines and new fluid in.

Not all 4x2s have drums. I have discs all the way around. Drums aren't hard. You just have to make sure you do one at a time or have a picture available for reference when you put it back together.

Wow, did not know that. How did you end up w/ 4-wheel discs?

I have 4-wheel discs too; on my '97 4x2

However, in my vin number it states that mine was to be a 4x4 - go figure!

don't forget to put a little grease on backing plate where the shoes hit..good luck..

I have 4-wheel discs too; on my '97 4x2

However, in my vin number it states that mine was to be a 4x4 - go figure!

Hmmm... Surfertech's is also a '97. Did they stop putting rear disks on after '97? Also, can these be retrofitted to my '01? Probably would not be worth the cost, but was just curious.