Brake Drum replacement, repair & inspections made easy

Brake drums are often used on the rear of smaller and lower specification vehicles instead of brake discs. The drums rotate with the wheels and provide the surface for the brake shoes to act against when the brake pedal is pressed.

How do brake drums work and what are the components?

When the foot brakes are applied, the hydraulic fluid forces the wheel cylinder pistons out, which in turn forces the brake shoes to come into contact with the inside of the brake drum. This friction then slows the rotational speed of the drum and therefore slows the wheels.

How do you know there is something wrong with the brake drums?

Due to the wear areas being inside the drum and therefore invisible, it is difficult to ascertain whether there is an issue or not. Therefore we recommend having an inspection carried out by a mechanic if you have any concerns.

When should you consider changing the brake drums?

In reality, only when advised to do so by a mechanic after an inspection or during a brake shoe replacement.

Brake drums are supplied and fitted in axle pairs (i.e. rear). It is equally important to have new brake shoes fitted at the same time otherwise any wear pattern on the shoes from the previous drums could severely reduce the contact area between the two. This is so important that no mechanic would consider doing otherwise.

How common are brake drum replacements?

Brake drums do not tend to be replaced as frequently as brake discs. In some cases, brake drums can last the lifetime of a vehicle! However, if the brake shoes become excessively worn, damage can occur to the brake pad application surface, in which case the drum would need to be replaced.

How can I extend the lifetime of my brake drums?

As with most parts of your car, the less pressure you put on any part of your car’s brakes, the longer they will last. If you carry heavy loads frequently, or tow a caravan for example, your brake system will come under greater pressure than it would otherwise and as such the discs may wear prematurely. Therefore, removing unnecessary weight from the vehicle will not only improve your fuel consumption, it will reduce the wear on the brakes.

Also consider your driving style. Anticipating the road conditions ahead, keeping your speed as constant as possible, and thereby avoiding sharp braking are all likely to lengthen the interval between brake drum replacements.

What happens when brake drums are replaced?

Mechanic will remove the brake drum and inspect the brake shoes, wheel cylinder and actuating mechanism.
Mechanic will establish if the brake drum's thickness is within the required tolerances.
If necessary, the mechanic will replace the brake drum along with a new set of brake shoes.
Mechanic will advise if other parts of the braking system need replacing too.
Mechanic will test drive the car and inspect the brake system again.
Mechanic will make adjustments if necessary.

How much do brake drums cost to replace?

The cost of a brake drum replacement depends on your car and what parts your car's manufacturer recommends using for the replacement. Find out what you could save by having your brake drum replaced by ClickMechanic, by selecting your car at the top of this page!

Want to know how much you'd pay at a franchise dealer or independent garage?

Check out the ClickMechanic price for a Brake Drum replacement. We use industry standard data & millions of data points so you know what you should be paying

These estimates may include Rear brake shoes and Rear brake drum

42 manufacturers for Brake Drum Replacement

Name	Clickmechanic Click mechanic average	Independent garage estimate	Franchise dealer estimate
Alfa Romeo Parts costs: £169.74 - £211.51 Labour time: 0-1 hours # of quotes: 9	£226	£200 - £206	£263 - £271	Get exact price
Audi Parts costs: £138.22 - £237.31 Labour time: 0-1 hours # of quotes: 38	£223	£160 - £238	£209 - £318	Get exact price
BMW Parts costs: £133.20 - £233.58 Labour time: 0-1 hours # of quotes: 26	£248	£172 - £244	£238 - £331	Get exact price
Chevrolet Parts costs: £215.62 - £389.19 Labour time: 0-1 hours # of quotes: 51	£360	£248 - £373	£324 - £487	Get exact price
Chrysler Parts costs: £234.92 - £311.46 Labour time: 0-1 hours # of quotes: 66	£284	£268 - £292	£347 - £377	Get exact price
Citroen Parts costs: £181.23 - £405.44 Labour time: 0-2 hours # of quotes: 874	£346	£225 - £414	£304 - £558	Get exact price
Dacia Parts costs: £634.01 - £850.24 Labour time: 0-1 hours # of quotes: 40	£756	£667 - £749	£826 - £932	Get exact price
Daewoo Parts costs: £207.47 - £266.79 Labour time: 0-1 hours # of quotes: 10	£290	£254 - £271	£341 - £365	Get exact price
Daihatsu Parts costs: £174.89 - £248.48 Labour time: 0-1 hours # of quotes: 2	£262	£224 - £256	£308 - £346	Get exact price
Dodge Parts costs: £300.07 - £360.08 Labour time: 0-1 hours # of quotes: 2	£326	£328 - £329	£415 - £417	Get exact price
DS Parts costs: £360.47 - £432.56 Labour time: 0-1 hours # of quotes: 2	£455	£411 - £411	£534 - £534	Get exact price
Fiat Parts costs: £134.32 - £303.50 Labour time: 0-1 hours # of quotes: 802	£230	£162 - £302	£216 - £401	Get exact price
Ford Parts costs: £197.02 - £381.95 Labour time: 0-1 hours # of quotes: 2960	£311	£230 - £367	£302 - £480	Get exact price
Honda Parts costs: £114.03 - £138.64 Labour time: 0-1 hours # of quotes: 64	£165	£147 - £148	£202 - £204	Get exact price
Hyundai Parts costs: £168.04 - £312.32 Labour time: 0-1 hours # of quotes: 183	£268	£201 - £309	£267 - £410	Get exact price
Jaguar Parts costs: £144.61 - £188.24 Labour time: 0-1 hours # of quotes: 3	£228	£196 - £211	£275 - £296	Get exact price
Jeep Parts costs: £155.04 - £245.75 Labour time: 0-1 hours # of quotes: 29	£223	£171 - £254	£219 - £344	Get exact price
Kia Parts costs: £248.51 - £577.30 Labour time: 0-1 hours # of quotes: 132	£449	£281 - £530	£363 - £675	Get exact price
Land Rover Parts costs: £331.97 - £478.96 Labour time: 0-1 hours # of quotes: 272	£411	£365 - £448	£464 - £577	Get exact price
LDV Parts costs: £208.07 - £286.45 Labour time: 0-1 hours # of quotes: 21	£266	£238 - £288	£309 - £384	Get exact price
Lexus Parts costs: £296.63 - £355.96 Labour time: 0-1 hours # of quotes: 1	£408	£346 - £346	£454 - £454	Get exact price
London Taxi's International Parts costs: £116.97 - £140.36 Labour time: 0-1 hours # of quotes: 1	£172	£151 - £151	£209 - £209	Get exact price
Mazda Parts costs: £274.97 - £402.41 Labour time: 0-1 hours # of quotes: 91	£345	£302 - £384	£384 - £500	Get exact price
Mercedes-Benz Parts costs: £193.59 - £236.66 Labour time: 0-1 hours # of quotes: 40	£300	£237 - £246	£319 - £334	Get exact price
MG Parts costs: £165.13 - £198.15 Labour time: 0-1 hours # of quotes: 3	£204	£209 - £209	£285 - £285	Get exact price
MINI Parts costs: £123.99 - £148.79 Labour time: 0-1 hours # of quotes: 1	£191	£165 - £165	£230 - £230	Get exact price
Mitsubishi Parts costs: £207.97 - £366.41 Labour time: 0-1 hours # of quotes: 99	£327	£241 - £354	£315 - £464	Get exact price
Nissan Parts costs: £214.71 - £375.12 Labour time: 0-1 hours # of quotes: 454	£305	£247 - £362	£323 - £473	Get exact price
Peugeot Parts costs: £211.25 - £441.56 Labour time: 0-1 hours # of quotes: 1008	£347	£249 - £417	£330 - £539	Get exact price
Proton Parts costs: £138.05 - £165.66 Labour time: 0-1 hours # of quotes: 1	£207	£188 - £188	£266 - £266	Get exact price
Renault Parts costs: £216.57 - £514.58 Labour time: 0-1 hours # of quotes: 615	£399	£255 - £478	£336 - £612	Get exact price
Rover Parts costs: £161.46 - £203.08 Labour time: 0-1 hours # of quotes: 34	£212	£205 - £213	£281 - £290	Get exact price
Saab Parts costs: £110.76 - £132.91 Labour time: 0-1 hours # of quotes: 1	£193	£160 - £160	£231 - £231	Get exact price
SEAT Parts costs: £142.97 - £209.90 Labour time: 0-1 hours # of quotes: 329	£195	£165 - £224	£215 - £308	Get exact price
Skoda Parts costs: £142.97 - £243.25 Labour time: 0-1 hours # of quotes: 249	£208	£165 - £252	£215 - £341	Get exact price
Smart Parts costs: £217.94 - £381.98 Labour time: 0-1 hours # of quotes: 70	£314	£234 - £367	£294 - £480	Get exact price
Subaru Parts costs: £229.82 - £561.94 Labour time: 0-1 hours # of quotes: 3	£439	£259 - £517	£334 - £660	Get exact price
Suzuki Parts costs: £185.65 - £335.19 Labour time: 0-1 hours # of quotes: 111	£309	£213 - £334	£277 - £444	Get exact price
Toyota Parts costs: £163.99 - £281.90 Labour time: 0-1 hours # of quotes: 425	£251	£197 - £284	£262 - £380	Get exact price
Vauxhall Parts costs: £166.07 - £324.72 Labour time: 0-1 hours # of quotes: 1171	£270	£193 - £325	£254 - £433	Get exact price
Volkswagen Parts costs: £144.22 - £240.97 Labour time: 0-1 hours # of quotes: 721	£220	£166 - £250	£217 - £339	Get exact price
Volvo Parts costs: £96.80 - £116.16 Labour time: 0-1 hours # of quotes: 1	£165	£146 - £146	£214 - £214	Get exact price

Prices could not be created for 38 models. Show ∨

Microcar
Metrocab
Hummer
Reva
Asia
TVR
Ferrari
Morgan
Buick
Lamborghini
Pontiac
Carbodies
Mitsubishi Fuso
Moskvich
Bentley
Cadillac
Ford US
Aixam
Austin

Daimler
FSO
Iveco
Maybach
Rolls-Royce
Santana
Tata
Great Wall
Piaggio
Perodua
Infiniti
Porsche
Aston Martin
Isuzu
Lada
Lancia
Lotus
Maserati
Ssangyong

Estimates on repair costs, such as the above results for a brake drum replacement, are created by combining data from multiple third-party sources. The actual cost of using your local repair providers may be outside of the estimated range. We provide estimates on repair costs for information only and accept no liability for any inaccuracies or errors. If you think an estimate is incorrect, please contact us to let us know.

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Mechanics that undertake brake drum work

Scott And Son Automotive, Hawick
Tobia Services, Hayes

Recent Brake Drum replacement quotes

These recent quotes were taken from our quote engine which uses third-party industry standard data on repair times, along with a live parts retailer, and a regional labour rate to build an accurate free quote. We are constantly improving our quote engine, so please let us know if a price seems incorrect.

£313.51

Brake drums & shoes replacement - rear (both)

Fiat Grande Punto

Burgess Hill

£165.22

Brake drums & shoes replacement - rear (both)

Volvo S60

Worcester Park

£169.49

Brake drums & shoes replacement - rear (both)

Honda Jazz

Yarm

£328.22

Brake drums & shoes replacement - rear (both)

Vauxhall Corsa

Ipswich

Brake Drum replacement, repair & inspections made easy

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Recent Reviews Related to Brake Drum Replacement

Countries in the UK

Counties in the UK

Want to learn more about Brake Drum replacements?

What are brake drums?

How do brake drums work and what are the components?

How do you know there is something wrong with the brake drums?

When should you consider changing the brake drums?

How common are brake drum replacements?

How can I extend the lifetime of my brake drums?

What happens when brake drums are replaced?

How much do brake drums cost to replace?

Want to know how much you'd pay at a franchise dealer or independent garage?

Check out the ClickMechanic price for a Brake Drum replacement. We use industry standard data & millions of data points so you know what you should be paying

Alfa Romeo

£226

£200 - £206

£263 - £271

Audi

£223

£160 - £238

£209 - £318

BMW

£248

£172 - £244

£238 - £331

Chevrolet

£360

£248 - £373

£324 - £487

Chrysler

£284

£268 - £292

£347 - £377

Citroen

£346

£225 - £414

£304 - £558

Dacia

£756

£667 - £749

£826 - £932

Daewoo

£290

£254 - £271

£341 - £365

Daihatsu

£262

£224 - £256

£308 - £346

Dodge

£326

£328 - £329

£415 - £417

DS

£455

£411 - £411

£534 - £534

Fiat

£230

£162 - £302

£216 - £401

Ford

£311

£230 - £367

£302 - £480

Honda

£165

£147 - £148

£202 - £204

Hyundai

£268

£201 - £309

£267 - £410