Checking Drums and Shoes

Author
Discussion

RacingGreen0001

Original Poster:

58 posts

103 months

Tuesday 19th September 2017
quotequote all
Hi All,

I have been told that my drums and shoes need to be replaced on my vehicle, VW Polo (57). An independent garage is doing the job for £240 (inclusive of VAT) incl. brake fluid flush and change

How do I make sure they have definitely changed the drums and shoes? The drum I can obviously see from outside - but the shoes I can't see. Does the amount of handbrake travel indicate that the shoes have been changed? Is the price of £240 reasonable?

I hate to be so cynical - I've just read to many horror stories on garages not actually completing work! I would like to add - they (the garage) have been very courteous to me so far!

Thanks,

RG


Edited by RacingGreen0001 on Tuesday 19th September 17:03

DuraAce

4,240 posts

159 months

Tuesday 19th September 2017
quotequote all
Standing behind them while they work is the only way to be sure. You can ask for the old parts to left in the car, but they could be from anything (unlikely I know). Or change them yourself.

Handbrake travel is no indication of shoe replacement.

Chances are everything will be above board.

RacingGreen0001

Original Poster:

58 posts

103 months

Tuesday 19th September 2017
quotequote all
DuraAce said:
Chances are everything will be above board.
I think you're right - fretting for no obvious reason!

Emanresu

311 posts

88 months

Tuesday 19th September 2017
quotequote all
If you're really worried, open everything up and put a little dab of tippex in everything that only you will know about. If you're not capable of opening everything up, just put a little dab in the drums and and least you'll know that part was changed.

HustleRussell

24,602 posts

159 months

Tuesday 19th September 2017
quotequote all
You might just have to take their word for it on the shoes, the hub nut will be done up very tight and may be a special shape and / or single use.

I am perplexed about why a '57 plate Polo would need new brake drums? Shoes, yes- but drums? presumably this means they are fitting new bearings too?

RacingGreen0001

Original Poster:

58 posts

103 months

Tuesday 19th September 2017
quotequote all
Emanresu said:
If you're really worried, open everything up and put a little dab of tippex in everything that only you will know about. If you're not capable of opening everything up, just put a little dab in the drums and and least you'll know that part was changed.
Unfortunately, the garage already had the car at the time. But this is a good tip for next time.

HustleRussell said:
You might just have to take their word for it on the shoes, the hub nut will be done up very tight and may be a special shape and / or single use.

I am perplexed about why a '57 plate Polo would need new brake drums? Shoes, yes- but drums? presumably this means they are fitting new bearings too?
The garage said the drums along with the shoes had been worn out. Apparently they took pictures so I'll review these when I get them.

RacingGreen0001

Original Poster:

58 posts

103 months

Tuesday 19th September 2017
quotequote all
Are the rear brakes also used for driving ? or just parking i.e handbrake?

DuraAce

4,240 posts

159 months

Tuesday 19th September 2017
quotequote all
RacingGreen0001 said:
Are the rear brakes also used for driving ? or just parking i.e handbrake?
Both! Good lord.

RacingGreen0001

Original Poster:

58 posts

103 months

Tuesday 19th September 2017
quotequote all
DuraAce said:
Both! Good lord.
I don't know if I can show my face here after my question.

Depthhoar

673 posts

127 months

Tuesday 19th September 2017
quotequote all
HustleRussell said:
I am perplexed about why a '57 plate Polo would need new brake drums? Shoes, yes- but drums? presumably this means they are fitting new bearings too?
Had to have both the rear drums and shoes replaced on my 2010 1.2 (70PS) Polo at 70k miles. Owned the car from new. I was shocked. Handbrake often seizes solid requiring a hammer to free off and probably partially seizes wearing out both components. Can only assume rubbish design and/or low spec components.

Had two sets of brake wheel cylinders replaced, too. VW quality not in any what it was 20 years ago.

Oh, and both front wheel bearings needed replacing at 30k miles. WTF?

Will never buy another VW.


Edited by Depthhoar on Tuesday 19th September 20:25

PositronicRay

26,958 posts

182 months

Tuesday 19th September 2017
quotequote all
RacingGreen0001 said:
DuraAce said:
Both! Good lord.
I don't know if I can show my face here after my question.
It's not as stupid as it sounds, plenty of cars have rear drums just for the handbrake.

DuraAce

4,240 posts

159 months

Wednesday 20th September 2017
quotequote all
PositronicRay said:
It's not as stupid as it sounds, plenty of cars have rear drums just for the handbrake.
He said 'are the rear brakes used for driving' not drums specifically for solo use just for a handbrake. I interpreted that as him thinking rear brakes are only used during handbrake operation but not whilst driving. I didn't get the impression he might have known that some cars run rear discs with internal shoes for the handbrake.

Do you know many cars that only use the front brake when the brake pedal is pressed?!

Edited by DuraAce on Wednesday 20th September 07:14

HustleRussell

24,602 posts

159 months

Wednesday 20th September 2017
quotequote all
DuraAce said:
He said 'are the rear brakes used for driving' not drums specifically for solo use just for a handbrake. I interpreted that as him thinking rear brakes are only used during handbrake operation but not whilst driving.
RacingGreen0001 said:
Are the rear brakes also used for driving ? or just parking i.e handbrake?
^That's a question, not a statement

Depthhoar said:
HustleRussell said:
I am perplexed about why a '57 plate Polo would need new brake drums? Shoes, yes- but drums? presumably this means they are fitting new bearings too?
Had to have both the rear drums and shoes replaced on my 2010 1.2 (70PS) Polo at 70k miles. Owned the car from new. I was shocked. Handbrake often seizes solid requiring a hammer to free off and probably partially seizes wearing out both components. Can only assume rubbish design and/or low spec components.

Had two sets of brake wheel cylinders replaced, too. VW quality not in any what it was 20 years ago.

Oh, and both front wheel bearings needed replacing at 30k miles. WTF?

Will never buy another VW.
Time was that you only ever really needed to replace drums if the shoes had gone down to the metal and they're badly scored. Suppose they're made of monkey metal these days.

paintman

7,669 posts

189 months

Wednesday 20th September 2017
quotequote all
The ONLY way to be sure of anything is to do it yourself.

Is this the issue you're on about in your other thread?
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

dannyDC2

7,543 posts

167 months

Wednesday 20th September 2017
quotequote all
PositronicRay said:
It's not as stupid as it sounds, plenty of cars have rear drums just for the handbrake.
Really? scratchchin

RacingGreen0001

Original Poster:

58 posts

103 months

Wednesday 20th September 2017
quotequote all
Depthhoar said:
Had to have both the rear drums and shoes replaced on my 2010 1.2 (70PS) Polo at 70k miles.


Edited by Depthhoar on Tuesday 19th September 20:25
This is quite interesting - as I've just hit 70k

paintman said:
The ONLY way to be sure of anything is to do it yourself.

Is this the issue you're on about in your other thread?
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
It is indeed.

G600

1,479 posts

186 months

Wednesday 20th September 2017
quotequote all
dannyDC2 said:
Really? scratchchin
My Z4 has rear discs but drums for the handbrake, the drum is built into the disc.

RacingGreen0001

Original Poster:

58 posts

103 months

Sunday 24th September 2017
quotequote all
Final update

All, thanks very much for all of this advice, it is very much appreciated.

So I picked the car up, drums were very shiny so quite new. The mechanic kept the 2 old shoes to show me (couldn't see the other two!).

All in all I'm very happy with the job.

I've learnt it's important not to be so cynical sometimes, as I was. All the indicators were there that this was a trustworthy mechanic, and I should have accepted that.

Thanks again all!

sunbeam alpine

6,936 posts

187 months

Sunday 24th September 2017
quotequote all
dannyDC2 said:
PositronicRay said:
It's not as stupid as it sounds, plenty of cars have rear drums just for the handbrake.
Really? scratchchin
I have several cars which have all-round discs, together with drums at the back purely for the hand brake.

HustleRussell

24,602 posts

159 months

Sunday 24th September 2017
quotequote all
RacingGreen0001 said:
Final update

All, thanks very much for all of this advice, it is very much appreciated.

So I picked the car up, drums were very shiny so quite new. The mechanic kept the 2 old shoes to show me (couldn't see the other two!).

All in all I'm very happy with the job.

I've learnt it's important not to be so cynical sometimes, as I was. All the indicators were there that this was a trustworthy mechanic, and I should have accepted that.

Thanks again all!
Stay cynical, use the same mechanic again next time!