Lexus LS400 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 Lexus LS400 Brake Drum Replacement is $356 with $242 for parts and $114 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.

Car	Service	Estimate	Shop/Dealer Price
1994 Lexus LS400V8-4.0L	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$926.75	Shop/Dealer Price$1144.94 - $1752.26
1991 Lexus LS400V8-4.0L	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$598.69	Shop/Dealer Price$740.90 - $1120.21
1995 Lexus LS400V8-4.0L	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$756.24	Shop/Dealer Price$934.74 - $1403.16
1993 Lexus LS400V8-4.0L	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$902.75	Shop/Dealer Price$1120.93 - $1728.24
1990 Lexus LS400V8-4.0L	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$598.69	Shop/Dealer Price$740.93 - $1120.26
1999 Lexus LS400V8-4.0L	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$756.24	Shop/Dealer Price$934.74 - $1403.16
1998 Lexus LS400V8-4.0L	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$764.74	Shop/Dealer Price$942.83 - $1410.95
2000 Lexus LS400V8-4.0L	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$764.74	Shop/Dealer Price$943.94 - $1412.89

Show example Lexus LS400 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 Lexus mechanics

Real customer reviews from Lexus owners like you.

Excellent Rating

(148)

Rating Summary

139

7

1

0

1

139

7

1

0

1

SEE REVIEWS NEAR ME

Peter

43 years of experience

1321 reviews

Peter

43 years of experience

by Mike

Lexus LS400 V8-4.0L - Power Brake Booster - Paradise Valley, Arizona

Great work! Quick and ontime.

Kwante

12 years of experience

49 reviews

Kwante

12 years of experience

by ERIK

Lexus LS400 V8-4.0L - Clunking noise when I drive over bumps - Brooklyn, Maryland

Great guy great communication i definitely would suggest you guys choose kwante thank you again

Ramon

7 years of experience

114 reviews

Ramon

7 years of experience

by Brian

Lexus LS400 V8-4.0L - Power Steering Pump - Montebello, California

Awesome dude I would recommend him to all my friends !!

Kevo

312 years of experience

189 reviews

Kevo

312 years of experience

by Dave

Lexus LS400 V8-4.0L - Car AC Repair - Sacramento, California

Kevin was very friendly and knowledgeable. He explained what he was doing step by step. It was a great experience. If I could schedule him directly next time I would.

Excellent Rating

(148)

Rating Summary

139

7

1

0

1

139

7

1

0

1

SEE REVIEWS NEAR ME

Recent articles & questions

P0321 OBD-II Trouble Code: Ignition/Distributor Engine Speed Input Circuit Range/Performance

P0321 P0321 code definition Ignition/Distributor Engine Speed Input Circuit Range/Performance What the P0321 code means P0321 is an OBD-II generic code that the engine control module (ECM) detected the engine speed input sensor circuit out of range or its performance...

Veteran and Military Driver Laws and Benefits in New Mexico

The The state of New Mexico offers a number of benefits and perks for those Americans who have either served in an Armed Forces branch in the past, or are current active military members. Military honor plates New Mexico offers...

How to Install an Ignition Switch

When When your ignition switch (https://www.yourmechanic.com/parts/ignition-switch) fails, it can cause a number of different issues. You may experience anything from a failure to start, to a stalling problem, to a series of electrical issues. There is never a good time...

FUEL WONT GO IN TANK AND AUTO NOZZLE TRIPS

You most likely have a fuel filler nozzle that has an outer hose with an outer hose in it. If the inner hose comes off of its mounting at the inlet of nozzle then it will restrict the fuel trying...

Put windshield wiper fluid in coolant reservoir by accident

If you did NOT operate the car after putting the washer fluid in the coolant overflow reservoir, simply use a turkey baster, or like tool, to suck the contaminated fluid out of the reservoir, pour some water in and then...

Car won't start, making clicking noise when I try to start it and the gages needles are going from low to high speed w/wo key

Be sure you have a fully charged battery that passes a load test (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/battery-is-dead-inspection). Once you have a confirmed good battery, if the starter motor is not functioning that means the starter circuit, or the starter motor itself, is faulty....

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