Overhauling Rear Drum Brakes: Eliminating Squeaks and Improving Handbrake Response

If the rear brakes of your Volkswagen Polo III have started to squeal, and you have to raise the handbrake lever higher and higher, most likely the parts of the drum mechanism have worn out. The problem may be simpler, for example, a stuck cable. However, when weaker braking occurs at the same time or one rear wheel starts to heat up, adjustment alone is no longer enough.

Rear drum brakes are used not only for braking the car while driving. The handbrake also works through them. As a result, worn pads, a damaged drum or a cable that no longer moves often cause several symptoms at once.

Why do drum brakes start to squeal?

Squealing usually occurs when the pads' surface hardens, and brake dust accumulates inside the drum. It can be worse. When the wheel cylinder starts to leak, it contaminates the pads with brake fluid, reducing their friction and causing uneven braking.

In this case, replacing old springs, pads and cylinders separately is not always cost-effective. The pre-assembled MAXGEAR 19-5647KIT Brake shoe set allows you to update the main parts of the rear drum mechanism in one repair. This is especially convenient when the old springs are already rusted, and the adjustment elements are difficult to move.

When do you also need to replace the brake drums?

New pads will not work well if the drum's inner surface is scratched or deformed. Sometimes, a pronounced wear edge has already formed in the drum. Then the pads do not adhere evenly to the surface, jerking is felt when braking, and their wear begins again.

VAICO V10-60008 Brake drum is suitable for such repairs. This is a four-hole rear brake drum for the relevant Polo III versions. It is worth replacing the drums on both sides of the rear axle. This way, the braking force remains more uniform, and the new pads wear similarly.

https://unsplash.com/photos/close-up-of-a-cars-handbrake-lever-upvQQkLIFp4

What to check:

1. Check the brake shoes
2. Look for fluid leaks
3. Inspect the wheel cylinder
4. Check the drum surface
5. Look for grooves or wear edges
6. Replace both drums if needed
7. Check the handbrake cable
8. Do not only tighten the cable
9. Adjust the mechanism after repair
10. Test both rear wheels

Why does the handbrake lever rise too high?

Excessive handbrake lever travel often indicates that the pads are already worn out or the cable has lost the required tension. It does not necessarily just stretch. If moisture gets into the protective sheath, the cable starts to rust and no longer moves freely.

Then one side can relax more slowly. After driving, the drum heats up, and the car still has poor grip on the slope.

NK 904783 Cable pull, parking brake helps restore proper handbrake operation when the old cable has already stretched or started to jam. Simply tightening it is not a good solution. Too much tension may prevent the pads from fully retracting.

When is it necessary to renew the entire mechanism?

The entire rear drum brake mechanism should be renewed when there is a squeaking sound, a high handbrake lever stroke and uneven braking of the rear wheels. In this case, replacing one part usually only postpones the problem.

A new set of pads, neat drums and a freely moving cable restore not only the operation of the handbrake. The overall braking of the rear axle also improves. After repair, the mechanism must be properly adjusted, and the operation of both rear wheels checked.