Mazda MX-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 MX-6 Brake Drum Replacement is $263 with $168 for parts and $95 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.

Car	Service	Estimate	Shop/Dealer Price
1993 Mazda MX-6V6-2.5L	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$562.23	Shop/Dealer Price$680.29 - $1007.47
1988 Mazda MX-6L4-2.2L Turbo	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$862.39	Shop/Dealer Price$1058.76 - $1616.33
1991 Mazda MX-6L4-2.2L	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$633.36	Shop/Dealer Price$757.37 - $1073.06
1995 Mazda MX-6L4-2.0L	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$478.57	Shop/Dealer Price$577.58 - $840.88
1997 Mazda MX-6L4-2.0L	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$478.57	Shop/Dealer Price$577.64 - $840.98
1991 Mazda MX-6L4-2.2L Turbo	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$843.39	Shop/Dealer Price$1037.76 - $1593.82
1989 Mazda MX-6L4-2.2L Turbo	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$869.39	Shop/Dealer Price$1065.57 - $1623.00
1994 Mazda MX-6L4-2.0L	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$486.07	Shop/Dealer Price$585.47 - $849.06

Show example Mazda MX-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

(17)

Rating Summary

14

0

2

1

0

14

0

2

1

0

SEE REVIEWS NEAR ME

Martin

42 years of experience

90 reviews

Martin

42 years of experience

by Ruben

Mazda MX-6 V6-2.5L - 75 Point Safety Inspection - San Marcos, Texas

Tomas

17 years of experience

226 reviews

Tomas

17 years of experience

by Nelson

Mazda MX-6 L4-2.0L - Starter - Haledon, New Jersey

He came to replace a starter in my car and informed that it needs new brake fluids. Friendly and helpful.

Robert

32 years of experience

191 reviews

Robert

32 years of experience

by Christine

Mazda MX-6 V6-2.5L - Robert Panaggio came to our house last week and did some diagnostics on our car and found our problem. Unfortunately, the problem went a little further than any of us thought, and we would like Robert to come back and disconnect the Pro Lock system in the car, since that is the problem, and we really don't need it anymore. - Cupertino, California

Again, excellent service, and our problem was solved quickly and efficiently.

Jason

17 years of experience

429 reviews

Jason

17 years of experience

by Ryan

Mazda MX-6 V6-2.5L - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - Fremont, California

Excellent Rating

(17)

Rating Summary

14

0

2

1

0

14

0

2

1

0

SEE REVIEWS NEAR ME

Recent articles & questions

How to Get Buick Dealership Certified

GM/Buick car dealerships offer automotive technician jobs to mechanics who are certified through the Universal Technical Institute (UTI) and GM.

P2555 OBD-II Trouble Code: Throttle/Fuel Inhibit Circuit High

P2555 means there is a problem with the FICM (fuel injection control module). The FICM regulates how much fuel is delivered by the fuel injectors.

How Much Does a Mechanic Make in North Carolina?

Automotive technician jobs in North Carolina have an average mechanic salary of $40k, while the national average is roughly $37k.

Engine idle fluctuates and dies.

This may be a result of a dirty or failing idle air control valve. The idle air control valve reads the air intake as it is mixed with fuel prior to being injected into the engine at low speeds and...

Do you need to reprogram after replacing throttle body on 04 trailblazer

The Service Manual does not "require" any specific intervention (re-learn procedure). On this vehicle, the PCM will, by default, update itself to new values, just as you idle and drive the vehicle, if such new values are required. Even if...

Broken bolt in tensioner pulley. How to remove

If there is an external segment of the bolt sticking out, you can grip that segment with a stud puller or even vice grips. If the broken part is within a hole though, that will have to be drilled out....

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