How to Change Brake Shoes on a Nissan Frontier

The Nissan Frontier was manufactured with rear drum brakes on some models, which require routine maintenance for optimal performance. The twin shoes that are pushed against the inside of the drum by hydraulic wheel cylinders, can wear out of material and require replacement. The average backyard mechanic can replace the shoes on a Frontier in about thirty minutes.
Difficulty: Moderate
Instructions
Things You'll Need
Socket set
Screwdrivers
Floor jack
Lug wrench
1

Raise the truck at the brake to be repaired with the floor jack. The floor jack should be positioned ahead of the wheel, with the head on a frame rail, not the body or suspension. Pump the jack until the wheel is in the air.
2

Remove the wheel by turning the lug nuts in a counterclockwise direction. Then pull the wheel free. Set the wheel aside, away from the truck.
3

Remove the drum from the brake assembly by turning the keeper bolt in a counterclockwise direction. Then pull it free. The keeper bolt is on the front of the drum, slightly off center, that holds the drum to the assembly.
4

Disengage the long shoe springs by levering them from the shoe with a screwdriver. The shoes has hooks on its side which hold the long springs.
5

Remove the primary spring bolt in the center of each shoe. Then slide the shoes out.
6

Replace the shoes with new units. Then slide them onto the brake assembly and turn the primary spring bolt clockwise to lock them into place. Attach the long springs by levering them with a screwdriver back onto the shoe hooks.
7

Replace the drum by sliding it back over the shoes, lining up the keeper bolt hole. Turn the keeper bolt clockwise to secure the drum.
8

Replace the wheel by turning the lug nuts clockwise, in an alternating pattern. Lower the truck from the floor jack by turning the jack's pressure screw counterclockwise, slowly.
9

Repeat the entire process on the opposite side brake.

Tips & Warnings

It is recommended to change or resurface the drum when changing the shoes.

Use extreme caution when working on a lifted vehicle.