Subaru BRZ 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 Subaru BRZ Brake Drum Replacement is $341 with $208 for parts and $133 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.

Car	Service	Estimate	Shop/Dealer Price
2013 Subaru BRZH4-2.0L	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$585.23	Shop/Dealer Price$705.29 - $1033.97
2015 Subaru BRZH4-2.0L	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$557.23	Shop/Dealer Price$677.31 - $1006.01
2019 Subaru BRZH4-2.0L	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$577.64	Shop/Dealer Price$698.71 - $1023.61
2018 Subaru BRZH4-2.0L	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$577.64	Shop/Dealer Price$698.67 - $1023.54
2016 Subaru BRZH4-2.0L	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$550.63	Shop/Dealer Price$669.08 - $992.85
2014 Subaru BRZH4-2.0L	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$557.23	Shop/Dealer Price$677.31 - $1006.01
2017 Subaru BRZH4-2.0L	Service typeBrake Drum Replacement	Estimate$556.15	Shop/Dealer Price$674.02 - $996.52

Show example Subaru BRZ 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 Subaru mechanics

Real customer reviews from Subaru owners like you.

Excellent Rating

(23)

Rating Summary

21

1

1

0

0

21

1

1

0

0

SEE REVIEWS NEAR ME

John

36 years of experience

441 reviews

John

36 years of experience

by AMBlankenship

Subaru BRZ H4-2.0L - Brake Pads Replacement (Front, Rear) - San Francisco, California

Prompt, knowlegable and friendly. John showed me every step of the process for my brake replacement. So I got my service and learned more about my car. Win win!

Fernando

11 years of experience

73 reviews

Request Fernando

Fernando

11 years of experience

Request Fernando

by Tyrell

Subaru BRZ H4-2.0L - Loud noise when using the clutch Inspection - Marysville, Washington

Very friendly, knowledgeable

Gil

32 years of experience

4 reviews

Gil

32 years of experience

by Jomar

Subaru BRZ H4-2.0L - 50 Point Inspection - La Puente, California

Gil was phenomenal in customer service, I’d definitely recommend

Rigoberto

11 years of experience

739 reviews

Request Rigoberto

Rigoberto

11 years of experience

Request Rigoberto

by Michelle

Subaru BRZ H4-2.0L - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - La Grange, Illinois

Wonderful experience. Would definitely use Yourmechanic.com again!

Excellent Rating

(23)

Rating Summary

21

1

1

0

0

21

1

1

0

0

SEE REVIEWS NEAR ME

Recent articles & questions

P0227 OBD-II Trouble Code: Throttle/Pedal Position Sensor/Switch C Circuit Low Input

P0227 P0227 code definition Throttle/Pedal Position Sensor/Switch C Circuit Low Input What the P0227 code means P0227 is a generic OBD-II code indicating that the throttle/pedal position sensor/switch C circuit has a low input problem causing the sensor input to...

New Jersey Parking Laws: Understanding the Basics

One One of the important things to note about parking alongside the curb in New Jersey is the required distance between the curb and the car. You need to be within six inches of the curb, which is much closer...

P2607 OBD-II Trouble Code: Intake Air Heater 'B' Circulation Low

P2607 P2607 code definition The P2607 trouble code is a generic powertrain code related to computer circuit output issues. Your vehicle’s engine control module (ECM) is receiving a notification that the second intake air heater (heater B or 2) is...

Car starts and idles but put into drive it dies.

Hello there, when vehicles such as your 2004 Mitsubishi Montero become flooded it can create many issues. The most common problems with flooded cars is water being sucked into the intake, and into the engine. The other problem is corrosion...

Can I change my car from full injection to a carburetor?

Hi there. According to the emission department of the government, it is against the law to swap out a fuel injection system for a carburetor due to not getting a computer. If the vehicle was registered as recreational use only...

Screeching Noise at idle/start 2015 Volvo XC60, 52k miles

Hi Ryan. In most cases, the type of sound you're talking about is caused by a loose serpentine or drive belt. It could also be due to a pulley that is wearing out or even loose bearings inside the AC...

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