Mazda 6 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 Mazda 6 Brake Drum Replacement is $303 with $208 for parts and $95 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.

Car	Service	Estimate	Shop/Dealer Price
2017 Mazda 6L4-2.5L	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$531.15	Shop/Dealer Price$645.19 - $964.81
2019 Mazda 6L4-2.5L	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$577.64	Shop/Dealer Price$698.72 - $1023.61
2012 Mazda 6L4-2.5L	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$550.63	Shop/Dealer Price$669.06 - $992.81
2012 Mazda 6V6-3.7L	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$531.63	Shop/Dealer Price$648.03 - $970.26
2010 Mazda 6V6-3.7L	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$531.63	Shop/Dealer Price$648.08 - $970.34
2018 Mazda 6L4-2.5L	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$577.64	Shop/Dealer Price$698.71 - $1023.61
2004 Mazda 6L4-2.3L	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$557.63	Shop/Dealer Price$675.87 - $999.48
2018 Mazda 6L4-2.5L Turbo	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$586.14	Shop/Dealer Price$707.62 - $1032.81

Show example Mazda 6 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 Mazda mechanics

Real customer reviews from Mazda owners like you.

Excellent Rating

(712)

Rating Summary

675

18

3

2

14

675

18

3

2

14

SEE REVIEWS NEAR ME

Ben

41 years of experience

1433 reviews

Ben

41 years of experience

by Rameshwar

Mazda 6 V6-3.0L - Ignition Coil - Houston, Texas

Ben performed excellent job. He is very knowledge and explain you and provide solution.

Tom

42 years of experience

205 reviews

Tom

42 years of experience

by Wensong

Mazda 6 L4-2.3L - Radiator Hose Repair - Santa Clara, California

Tom is very nice, friendly, and trustworthy. I am very satisfied with his work.

Eric

15 years of experience

134 reviews

Eric

15 years of experience

by Ebony

Mazda 6 L4-2.5L - Brake Pads Replacement (Rear) - Hyattsville, Maryland

Eric was prompt, efficient, and quick. I appreciate his honesty and knowledge. I jumped on the road right after he was done with a peace of mind that I was riding in a safe car.

Jeremy

19 years of experience

3 reviews

Jeremy

19 years of experience

by Max

Mazda 6 L4-2.5L - Brake Rotor/Disc Replacement (Front) - Beaverton, Oregon

Very satisficed with Jeremy's service. He arrived on time and finished the job on time. I did a test drive and found no issue after he installed both front break discs and pads. He is friendly and easy to work with.

Excellent Rating

(712)

Rating Summary

675

18

3

2

14

675

18

3

2

14

SEE REVIEWS NEAR ME

Recent articles & questions

How Car Keypad Locks Work

Pioneered Pioneered by Ford, keypads let you lock, unlock without keys Pioneered by Ford, keypad door systems began appearing on high-end car and SUV products in the early 1980s. Ford took advantage of the then-new digital computer revolution – the...

How Long Does a Power Seat Switch Last?

While While many cars still have manual seat adjustments that work mechanically (you pull up on the bar in front of the seat, and then slide the seat forward or back), power seats are becoming more and more common these...

P0961 OBD-II Trouble Code: Pressure Control Solenoid A Control Circuit Range/Performance

P0961 means the voltage levels are outside of preset automaker variance allowances due to faulty wiring, solenoid, or low/dirty transmission fluid.

Car ran hot and now it will crank, but will not start.

Hi there. From the description you have provided, your vehicle will crank, but will not start, needs to be properly diagnosed. Replacing parts without diagnosing, can be costly and time consuming. The fact you got the engine to start after...

Loud whining noise, thick white smoke, and than car dies.

Hello. From what you describe it would appear that your vehicle may be experiencing possible mechanical or engine management issues. If these issues began after servicing the spark plugs and wires I would recommend verifying that the plugs are not...

steering wheel lock malfunction

The warning light, and the accompanying fault, represents a known issue in your model and consequently is much discussed in automotive forums. Frequently, the ignition switch module (ISM) is faulty but prior to any complex diagnostics, the battery should be...

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