New Pads for Drum Brakes?

[jderrick]

I'm pretty sure this means I need new pads, but want to be sure I'm looking at the right stuff... Any thoughts to either correct or agree with me?



Thanks,
John

[AlmightyCamry777]

I'll offer a late reply for anyone with a similar question -

It appears you took the photo through the hole in the backing plate (I assume those are the rear drum brakes of your car, since no way are those disc brake pads in the photo). Those are brake shoes and i can see what appears to be the lining material (of which there's plenty, they look brand new). The metal backing is the chipped and flaked portion to the right.

If i go to all the trouble to jack the car and remove the wheel (which you've done already for the picture) i would remove the drum, hold my breath (til i turned blue) and hose the brakes off with about half a can of brake cleaner (this not only cleans the brakes to make everything easier to see but helps you to avoid breathing asbestos dust) and check everything else inside. I'd examine the brake cylinder for leaks at the ends and the lining for uneven wear (if the lining is much thinner in some portions then others).

The brake shoe material is measured at the part where it is thinnest (the measurement does not include the metal backing material only the lining). Toyota says 3mm is bare minimum, i think, but if they're this thin or close to it, i just change the shoes.