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Drum brake tool kits?

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Simplespeed

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Who makes a good drum brake tool kit? Or is it best to piece one together? Iv done most of it with flathead drivers, needle nose and dikes so i dont know what all those fancy spoons are for. Also, who makes a good plier for pulling the ebrake spring back from the cable? Iv used a pair of pliers and dikes but it does damage the cable once in a while. We have a SO and Matco truck that come to our shop.
 
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freeskier

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drum brakes are not my thing but dads healy needs new shoes so im on the hunt as well. saw a member had a pieced togather set in the classifieds' the other day.
 
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Simplespeed

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930dreamer said:
These are the two main tools I use for drum brakes, not this brand though.

http://www.sjdiscounttools.com/kti70131.html

http://www.sjdiscounttools.com/kti70133.html
Click to expand...
I know those two are the most common but had never used them until today. I borrowed them both from a tech today and was like :wtf:. Cant believe iv been missing out on how quick these thing make a drum brake job. Is that second tool needed in different sizes or is it always the same size? Being youngish, i havnt done many drum brakes and thats also the reason i havent purchased these tools yet. Last week i got hit with 5 of them and had another this morning. I said screw it, im buying brake tools lol.
 
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Simplespeed

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Steen27 said:
Is this of any interest? The price seems fair for all that's included - front end suspension and brake tools together as a kit...

http://cgi.ebay.com/Craftsman-9-800...966?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4cf604fea6

and if you need a bleeder - there's this...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/CRAF...Z350449470984QQptZMotorsQ5fAutomotiveQ5fTools
Click to expand...

I recently picked up a mityvac and i am in love with it. Sure beats the old 2 man, up, down pedal pumping way. It will have already paid for itself soon.
 
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Seanbev24

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I wouldn't waste money on the sets, mostly because I've never felt the need for special bleeder wrenches or a bunch of adjuster spoons.

For bendix brakes, this is by far my favorite tool...
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...&group_ID=1676&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

You'll need these in the 2 different sizes (craftsman has a double ended one that is cheap and works fine)
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...&group_ID=1676&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

Get this for those big GM springs...
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...&group_ID=1676&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog
 
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Fedwrench

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I think you could piece one together based on the type of vehicles you work on and be better off than than getting a large set but, there's no fun in that and you wouldn't have those brightly colored handled tools. :lol:
For those of you that do GM drum brakes with that large single heart shaped spring, forget about those clamp type tools and get either the OTC 6631 copy of the original pliers or the j tool pair.
http://www.ntxtools.com/network-tool-warehouse/OTC-J-38400-p-OTC0111.html

These pliers are purpose built for those single spring brakes and once you're familiar with the plier's use, you can remove and replace those shoes in well under a minute. the pointed handle is for removing and installing the smaller brake adjuster spring. The j looking handle allows you to pull out on the large spring freeing the shoe. The notched jaws allow you to spread the shoes to remove leaking wheel cylinders. They may be hard to find, not cheap, but, they are one J tool that works well that should in any techs box that works on those type of brakes. Fix something with your tools today!!:thumbup:
 
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theoldwizard1

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Simplespeed said:
I know those two are the most common but had never used them until today. I borrowed them both from a tech today and was like :wtf:. Cant believe iv been missing out on how quick these thing make a drum brake job. Is that second tool needed in different sizes or is it always the same size?
Click to expand...

Wow ! I'm not a pro (but I have done more than a few brake jobs) but I have only done 1 rear drum brake job in the past 10-15 years !

I've never done drums on anything but a US car and that (or similar) Brake Retainer Clip tools has always worked for me.

Tip on drum. Spend the extra $10-$20 and replace all of the retainer pins (sometimes called "nails" for obvious reasons) hold down springs, retainers and other springs. This is especially true on the few US cars and trucks that still use rear drum because those parts are likely to be well over 5 years old (I didn't touch my rear drums on my E150 until 12 years old !).

Also clean the backing plate well with a steel brush and lube (disk brake lube is fine) the points on the baking plate that the shoes ride on.
 
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mrbreezeet1

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Simplespeed said:
I know those two are the most common but had never used them until today. I borrowed them both from a tech today and was like :wtf:. Cant believe iv been missing out on how quick these thing make a drum brake job. Is that second tool needed in different sizes or is it always the same size? Being youngish, i havnt done many drum brakes and thats also the reason i havent purchased these tools yet. Last week i got hit with 5 of them and had another this morning. I said screw it, im buying brake tools lol.
Click to expand...

If you get like a 96 or so Taurus rear brakes, I always take off the rear bearing/hub assby. Gives you a lot more room too.
Honda and the like, Toyota I think had the same set up.
Thanks,
Tony
 
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freeskier

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im working on a 1954 austin healy, drums all around, will the matco setup get th job done? like the OP, im young and didnt spend much time around the drums
 
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mrbreezeet1

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theoldwizard1 said:
Wow ! I'm not a pro (but I have done more than a few brake jobs) but I have only done 1 rear drum brake job in the past 10-15 years !

I've never done drums on anything but a US car and that (or similar) Brake Retainer Clip tools has always worked for me.

Tip on drum. Spend the extra $10-$20 and replace all of the retainer pins (sometimes called "nails" for obvious reasons) hold down springs, retainers and other springs. This is especially true on the few US cars and trucks that still use rear drum because those parts are likely to be well over 5 years old (I didn't touch my rear drums on my E150 until 12 years old !).

Also clean the backing plate well with a steel brush and lube (disk brake lube is fine) the points on the baking plate that the shoes ride on.
Click to expand...

Yeah, if your not already replacing them, make sure the wheel cylinders are not frozen too.
Take a screwdriver and try to push in on both sides of the wheel cylinder, the part that contacts the brake shoe, and make sure they are not frozen in the bore.
Ford and jeep seem to be good for this for some reason.
Thanks,
Tony
 
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mrbreezeet1

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03silvergt said:
Ive got this KD set. I like it

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00947753000P?prdNo=25&blockNo=25&blockType=G25
Click to expand...

looks pretty nice, even has the tool for rear disk.
Now on the ford fusion rear disk, I can usually wind the piston in with just needle nose pliers.
If your going to be doing fords, and I think it was/is ****** Toyota's,
There is a spreader tool, think Lisle makes it, to spread open that horseshoe shaped clip that holds the parking brake lever on to the shoe.
It's pretty nice to have too.
Thanks,
Tony
 
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Simplespeed

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My matco guy will have the green handle set for me next week. Cant wait. Forgot to ask him about the ebrake cable spring tool.
 
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dede2897234

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jfcasey said:
To go along with drum brake kits, whats everyone's preference on the best bleeder wrenches?
Click to expand...

jfcasey,

I purchased the following 8mm x 10mm, 6 point, offset bleeder wrench from this eBay seller a couple years ago: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/8mm-10mm-Offset-Wrench-Brakes-Bleeder-Auto-Repair-Tools-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem1c18f0193cQQitemZ120677472572QQptZMotorsQ5fAutomotiveQ5fTools.

I am going to use the wrench this summer on my 2003 Subaru Forester to bleed the brakes and use fresh, fully synthetic brake fluid.


Dave
 
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tkcaudill

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I have a set of Stanley's I use for bleeding brakes don't really use them most of the time.
 
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Brad54

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Get the name-brane brake tool, rather than a generic.
I've got a Craftsman and a Snap-on, and neither is better than the other.
But recently I had to do a parking lot brake job on a road trip, and didn't have a brake tool in my tool kit so I bought one.
The little hook/lip/socket that wraps the spring around the post at the top of the shoe: the hook/lip was too wide--it wouldn't fit in the end of the spring's hook.
I had to take my little hack saw and trim half of it away to make it work.
(yes, my road-trip kit is so complete I have tools to fix tools!)

My brake kit consists of a pliers-style brake tool, a bleeder hose, a Snap-on bleeder wrench I got at a pawn shop, a Craftsman brake spoon for adjusting the star wheels, a spare star wheel so I can see which way the wheel INSIDE the drum needs to be turned to adjust everything (once the drum is all put back together and I can't see it... it's a visual reference), and a KD drum brake caliper. I just added that, and it's worth it's weight in gold! You use one side to measure the I.D. of your drum, lock it, and then use the other side to adjust your shoes out the proper distance before reinstalling the drum.

-Brad
 
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