Ford Focus Drum Brakes -- about how many miles could I expect from them?

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Frank - 19 Jun 2004 16:42 GMT

I just replaced my front disk pads on my Ford Focus after 49000 miles.
I probably should have replaced them after 45000 miles.

Given my front pads made it to 45000 miles, does anyone have any
educated guess on what my rear shoes might look like?

I want to pull off the covers and check, but I'm not 100% sure about
the factory manual comment about "detach the wheel speed sensor"? Do
I just remove a bolt? And then what do I do?

I'm leaning towards taking this to a brake shop for the rear shoes
because I do not want to break anything.

Of course, right now I'm just wondering how much peace of mind I have
in not looking at my shoes until some point in the future versus
looking at them today.

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Tim \(Remove NOSPAM. - 19 Jun 2004 20:55 GMT

> I just replaced my front disk pads on my Ford Focus after 49000 miles.
> I probably should have replaced them after 45000 miles.
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> in not looking at my shoes until some point in the future versus
> looking at them today.

They ought to be visually looked at- if really only to check the wheel
cylinders for leaks. The shoes will probably be about 1/2 worn- mine are at
55k.

Tim..

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Freddie the Crook Finder - 19 Jun 2004 21:45 GMT

>I just replaced my front disk pads on my Ford Focus after 49000 miles.
> I probably should have replaced them after 45000 miles.
>
>Given my front pads made it to 45000 miles, does anyone have any
>educated guess on what my rear shoes might look like?

Probably just like they did when the car rolled off the assembly line.
These little cars with the front disk/rear drum brakes will usually
run through multiple front brake replacements before they show any
wear on the rear. Of course look, or have someone else look if that
makes you more comfortable.

On the bright side, my '90 escort had 120,000 miles on it when I
traded it. I'd had pads put on the front twice, but the rear shoes,
according to the nice man who earned his living selling break jobs,
still had at least 10,000 miles of wear left. This was at 115,000
miles.

Freddie

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Tom Kirkpatrick - 12 Aug 2004 00:53 GMT

I have replaced the front pads and the rotors three times in 85,000 km and
the rear shoes are still perfect, I would estimate they should last well
over 10,000 km. if you chose to look at the shoes the drum cam be removed by
removing the hub nut with a 30mm socket, re tighten to 180 ft lbs (check the
manual) this nut should be replaced after it has been removed four times.

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Gary Compton - 12 Aug 2004 19:52 GMT

Frank:

The brakes shoes for the Focus are of a "thick-thin" design, with the
trailing shoe being the thin one. I replaced my shoes at about 55,000 miles
because the thin shoe lining had cracked. I have read that this is a common
problem.

The speed sensor is connected by an electrical cable that you disconnect by
simply unplugging it. You will see the connector high in the wheelwell
where the wire exits.

Also, the preferred method for removing the brake drum is to remove the
four bolts on the inside of the backing plate. Then the drum and spindle
will pull off in one piece. You won't disturb the hub nut, nor will you
expose the bearings to dirt and debris. This is the method recommended the
Ford shop manual.

> I have replaced the front pads and the rotors three times in 85,000 km and
> the rear shoes are still perfect, I would estimate they should last well
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> > in not looking at my shoes until some point in the future versus
> > looking at them today.

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