Dodge Caravan Brake Drum Replacement Costs

Estimate price near me

Service Location

Customer Ratings

Included for free with this service

Online Booking

Mechanic comes to you

12-month / 12k-mile warranty

Free 50 point safety inspection

Our certified mobile mechanics can come to your home or office 7 days a week between 7 AM and 9 PM.

See availability

Customer Ratings

Brake Drum Replacement Service

How much does a Brake Drum Replacement cost?

On average, the cost for a Dodge Caravan Brake Drum Replacement is $366 with $186 for parts and $180 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.

Car	Service	Estimate	Shop/Dealer Price
1999 Dodge CaravanL4-2.4L	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$623.32	Shop/Dealer Price$741.66 - $1051.67
1997 Dodge CaravanV6-3.3L	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$583.32	Shop/Dealer Price$701.69 - $1011.73
1989 Dodge CaravanL4-2.5L Turbo	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$713.68	Shop/Dealer Price$842.68 - $1148.51
1997 Dodge CaravanV6-3.0L	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$583.32	Shop/Dealer Price$701.65 - $1011.64
1984 Dodge CaravanL4-2.2L	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$814.56	Shop/Dealer Price$992.14 - $1482.00
1992 Dodge CaravanV6-3.0L	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$784.44	Shop/Dealer Price$931.13 - $1290.03
1987 Dodge CaravanL4-2.6L	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$731.68	Shop/Dealer Price$860.19 - $1165.66
2004 Dodge CaravanL4-2.4L	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$685.20	Shop/Dealer Price$827.01 - $1206.31

Show example Dodge Caravan Brake Drum Replacement prices

What are brake drums and how do they work?

A brake drum is a heavy, cast iron brake system part that looks like a shallow, several inches-high cylinder about 9 to 12 inches in diameter. The brake drum has a precisely machined surface all around the interior circumference, that the brake shoes make contact with when you apply the brakes, transmitting hydraulic pressure through the wheel cylinder. This forces the brake shoes outward against the interior of the brake drum, resulting in the friction that causes the car to slow. The brake drum is mounted over, and fully encloses, all of the rear brake components such as the wheel cylinder, springs and clips, brake shoes, and parking brake mechanism. The drum is commonly held to the wheel hub by the wheel and the lug nuts, but some configurations combine the drum with the wheel hub as one unit. Nowadays, a drum brake type system is only installed on the rear axle, if used at all, as 4 wheel disc type systems have become more common.

When to consider replacing brake drums:

Reduced braking effectiveness. If the brake drum is unevenly worn, scored or cracked, it will increase stopping distances. A cracked drum must be replaced outright but a worn drum can be restored on a brake lathe so long as enough metal material remains.
Pulsating brakes, pulling to one side, vibration or noise. If a brake drum is warped, is unevenly worn, or perhaps the brake shoes have worn down completely — creating metal-to-metal contact — you might detect pedal pulsation, the vehicle may pull to one side, or you might feel a vibration or hear a noise when you apply the brakes. The brake system will have to be inspected to pinpoint the exact problem.
Brake shoe replacement. Anytime the brake shoes are replaced, the drum must either be resurfaced or replaced outright. Installing new brake shoes on a used, unresurfaced drum will lead to poor results.
Loss of parking brake function. The parking brake locks the brake shoes against the brake drum. If the brake drum is cracked, the parking brake lever will pull up excessively and the car may still be able to roll. However, a more common circumstance is parking brake maladjustment or seizure of parking brake components. Repair of those problems will often require removal of the brake drum.

How do mechanics replace brake drums?

There are two options when it comes to brake drum service: outright replacement or resurfacing. In some cases, it is cheaper to replace the drum rather than refurbish it. In both cases though, the removal and installation procedure for the drum is the same.

Raise the vehicle and safely support it using steel jack stands.
Remove tire and wheel assembly.
Remove brake drum. Sometimes the brake drum has rusted to the wheel hub and removal of the drum will require a brake drum puller. In some cases, the wheel hub is integral to the brake drum, in which case the hub-bearing retaining bolt and the wheel bearing must be removed to replace the drum.
Measure the interior diameter of the machined surface in the drum with a brake drum micrometer or similar measuring tool. If sufficient metal exists to resurface the drum on a brake lathe, the mechanic will compare the cost of such restoration to the alternative: buying a new drum.
Prior to installing the resurfaced or new drum, the brake shoes, springs, wheel cylinder, parking brake mechanism, and backing plate are all inspected. All worn parts should be replaced. Generally, if drums have been replaced or resurfaced, new brake shoes should be installed. The worn shoes will cause irregular wear in the brake drum and reduce braking effectiveness.
The shoes are adjusted and the drum is installed. The wheel and tire assembly are installed and torqued in the proper sequence and the car is road tested to check the operation of the brakes.

Is it safe to drive with a brake drum problem?

No. Should there be a deficiency with the brake drums, stopping distances will not be as short as possible. In a panic stop, stopping just five or ten feet shorter could be the difference between no collision and a collision. Any deficiency in a vehicle’s braking system is a cause for concern and a potential safety issue. Have the brake drums inspected at your earliest convenience to determine if a problem exists and find out what must be done to fix it.

When replacing brake drums keep in mind:

With few exceptions, brake work on one end of an axle should be performed on both ends of the axle. Should a brake drum on one end of a front or rear axle be serviced, or brake shoes on one end are serviced, both sides of the axle should receive the same service. This helps to avoid problems, such as pulling, vibration, and so forth, once the vehicle is returned for use.
Brake drum systems use very powerful springs to keep the brake shoes in position. These springs are exposed to extreme heat. It is best practice to replace all springs whenever new shoes are installed. Should a spring unexpectedly break in the brake drum assembly, a mispositioned brake shoe could cause the brakes to grab and lock, which would pose a safety issue.
If the wheel hub and bearing are integral to the brake drum on your car, the mechanic may recommend replacement of the grease in the wheel bearings and inspection of the wheel bearings.
Since the arc of the brake shoes will not perfectly match with the arc of the drum when new, expect a bed-in period before maximum braking efficiency is achieved.

Fast and easy service at your home or office

Backed by 12-month, 12.000-mile guarantee

Meet some of our expert Dodge mechanics

Real customer reviews from Dodge owners like you.

Excellent Rating

(255)

Rating Summary

233

12

0

1

9

233

12

0

1

9

SEE REVIEWS NEAR ME

Shawn

11 years of experience

8 reviews

Shawn

11 years of experience

by Joseph a carrillo

Caravan 2001 - Starter - Ventura, CA

Professional, approachable & knowledgeable.

Dan

32 years of experience

1001 reviews

Dan

32 years of experience

by Chykell Ross

Caravan 2006 - Starter - Lawrenceville, GA

Great work!

Mazyar

5 years of experience

372 reviews

Mazyar

5 years of experience

by Robert Soderstrom

Caravan 2002 - Loud squealing or squeaking is coming from timing belt - Atlanta, GA

Thank you

Jason

0 years of experience

417 reviews

Jason

0 years of experience

by Adela Cartahena

Caravan 1999 - Oil Pressure Sensor - Union City, CA

Reliable, Honest and Highly efficient in quality repair services. Would highly recommend!

Excellent Rating

(255)

Rating Summary

233

12

0

1

9

233

12

0

1

9

SEE REVIEWS NEAR ME

Recent articles & questions

5 Essential Things to Know About Owning a Diesel Car

While While once relegated to industrial applications, diesel engines are quickly becoming a popular option for those looking for a new car. Thanks to the numerous advances in technology, the once smelly, noisy engines have come a long way, and...

How Long Does a Glow Plug Last?

A A diesel engine is a very powerful and complicated piece of machinery. There are a variety of things that have to work together in order for the diesel engine to fire off and run as intended. Just like a...

How to Replace a Lost or Stolen Car Title in Florida

Without Without your car’s title, you cannot register it in Florida, or in another state if you’re moving out of Florida. In addition, you can’t sell it, trade it in, or use it as collateral for a loan. Obviously, this...

Knocking while idling.

The description you have given is rather vague, but it could be that what you are hearing is timing chain noise. This engine is well known for having timing chain issues. In fact, Chrysler even issued a recall for this...

Convertible top won't go down in a 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK430

There are many electronics that go into the convertible top and if one of them isn't working properly the whole system could not work. Some examples of electrical problems that can cause this to occur are blown fuses or electrical...

My 2002 jeep grand Cherokee keeps running hot. I replaced the water pump, thermostat, relay for fan,tempature sensor and the radia

Be sure not to drive the car if it is overheating because overheating can warp the cylinder head and/or engine block causing costly damage. The most common causes of overheating include low coolant level, a faulty thermostat, a plugged radiator,...

How can we help?

Our service team is available 7 days a week, Monday - Friday from 6 AM to 5 PM PST, Saturday - Sunday 7 AM - 4 PM PST.

1 (844) 997-3624 · hi@yourmechanic.com