Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Brakes how hard is it to do this??

Don't even get me started on trying to find the parts for the rear drums on Contour. I had to replace the rear brake cylinders on BOTH drum a couple o' months back. (I still haven't figured out why they failed in unison.) NO ONE had the correct wheel cylinders for it.

Tried Autozone, Advance, Pep Boys, Discount, Napa, Ford Dealership, Mercury dealership. Not one had the correct part. All had a part that was close, but machined differently. I finally had to modify my backing plate to accept the one available. The really sad part, was that the autoparts stores were truly apologetic about not having the part. The Ford and Mercury dealerships didn't seem to care.

Then I figure if I'm there, why not change the pads while I'm at it. No such luck. The pads everyone has are for a smaller drum. Just put the thing back together and left it. Oh, well. The rear brakes on a front drive car are mostly cosmetic anyway.

I HATE drum brakes.

No one had my drums in stock the old ones were under spec. Luckily my local pep boys had em but they were the only one that did i called about 6 places looking for best price.

I hate drums also took me so fn long to get the shoes to set back in the smallest postion they kept popping out when i rea atached the spring then the dam drum woudlnt fit.

took me 4.5hours to do both. not to bad since it wwas my first ti me ever touchign a drum brake.