Ford Focus (1998 - 2004) - Drum brakes

Honest John Back Room » Technical matters
View Threaded
Sat 6 Oct 2007 10:20
Drum brakes - Focus 1.6 Zetec S
Hi, i'm struggling to get my rear brakes off.
Namely the drums.
I've released the handbrake adjuster as far as it will go and have given the drums a good battering with a decent mallet to coax them off. But the shoes have produced a lip on the inside of the drums which are catching and making it difficult for the things to come off.
Any ideas? Maybe a puller or somethin similar?
thanks,
Jon

{refomatted layout of post - DD}

Edited by Dynamic Dave on 06/10/2007 at 13:57

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 6 Oct 2007 10:28
Drum brakes - Simon
I'm not familiar with Focus drums but have you wound off any adjustment mechanism for the shoes themselves as well as the handbrake adjuster?
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 6 Oct 2007 16:26
Drum brakes - piston power
if the focus is the same as escort/fiesta, the 4x bolts to remove at the rear then put the wheel on the drum and slowly turning & pulling work the drum off,
it may pull the shoes off but thats easy enough to put back on..
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 6 Oct 2007 17:11
Drum brakes - Screwloose

Stick a thin screwdriver through one bolt hole and flick off the ratchet.

Then grind off that lip.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sun 7 Oct 2007 11:22
Drum brakes - mikej
I've had the rear drums on my Mk1 Focus off many times.

As mentioned above, undo the 4 bolts at the rear of the plate that the stub axle is bolted to - this will allow the drum/hub and stub axle to be removed together and doing it this way removes (a) the need for undoing the hub nut and (b) the risk of damaging the bearings.

In my case, one of the bolts is tricky to remove as it's obscured by the brake pipe. The only way I've found to get this one off is by using a 10" breaker bar with pivoted head and the correct size socket.

When it comes to putting them back on, it's obviously extremely important to put them back on at the correct torque !
Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Our honest used car pricing is a little bit different to all the others. You can get to our values through make or model - you don’t have to follow a prescribed route. Plus, it’s live, which means we can react to changes in the market quicker than any printed price guide.

Honest Used Car Prices

From which small car to buy at which price point to the best UK-built cars, our Top 10s have the lot. Click now for your shortlist.

Unsure of what to buy? Our Top 10s are here to help you....