99 grand am rear brake replacement help

[housy_bigmike]

i'm looking to replace my rear brakes, but being drum brakes i'm not sure what i actually need to buy. i have read places that have mentioned brake hardware kits to replace certain springs, but i'm not sure what i actually need to buy. could anyone give me some suggestions or some help, recommendations or links for parts? also, is it worth it to put cross drilled & slotted rotors on the front of the car? again, any suggestions or links would be really helpful. thanks

[crazy Jim]

Just buy the shoes, that is, if the wheel cylinders are not leaking. You will also need a three special tools, atleast it'll make the job easier. Do one side at a time so you can refer to the other side if you have any issues.

[xeroinfinity]

housy_bigmike,
how many miles on your GA ?

If you have alot, over 100k, thier is a kit with parts,
it should have some parts that you will probly need.
Esspecially the Ebrake lever spring, its always rusted or broken.

If thiers leaking from the cylinders, as crazy_jim said,
you may need other parts like wheel cylinders.
You will also need a torx driver for the retractor ring bolt.
which isnt visible just behind the wheel Hub.

Here's a pic of the rear brakes.
rear brakes

*pay attention to the short and long shoes,
and the spring location on the parking brake lever.

On parts the dealer or napa , online thiers many places.
Check the OEM performance parts thread.

On the cross drilled rotors,
thier a waste unless you go race at the track on weekends.

Not realy made for street use, they eat brake pads too.
Then they get little cracks around the holes not worth the headaches
hope that helps.

Thier are some good slotted rotors out thier, they are expensive!
The best ones are power slots (IMO),
they have the slots cast into the rotors,
not cut into after casting which weakens/softens the steel.

heres a link at the tirerack with some power slots.