Removing and replacing brake shoes from your vehicle is a simple process that nonetheless requires careful attention and expert tool and part manipulation. Poorly executing any step of the process can lead to brake failure. Consequently most mechanics advise you to save this process for experts or at least consult a mechanic before you begin. Replacing the rear shoes on your 1994 Chevrolet 2500 truck is a complicated but doable task.
Remove the hubcaps and loosen the nuts on the rear wheels of your truck before you raise it up onto the jack. The weight of the truck will keep the wheel stable while you're cracking the nuts. If you attempt to loosen the nuts after you raise the truck onto the jack, it will be difficult to crack the nuts without turning the wheels.
Raise the 2500 on a 5-ton jack and support the truck with two jack stands. Though 2500s don't nearly approach 5 tons in gross weight, it is good to use a jack that can lift twice the weight of your vehicle.
Unscrew the cracked nuts on the driver's side rear wheel to remove the wheel entirely.
Cover the rear wheel's hub with a penetrating oil and let the oil work for several minutes. This will lubricate the hub and drum while you're working with it.
Remove the retaining clips holding the brake drum in place before unscrewing the four anchoring screws that attach the drum to the truck.
Pull the brake drum off the truck.
Use brake cleaner spray to remove excess oil, dirt and debris from the drum and the connection point on the truck.
Use the specialty shoe return ring removal tool to remove the old brake shoe return rings.
Hold the shoe's retaining pin down while removing the retainer springs.
Take the old shoes off the drum by pulling each side of the shoe outward from the drum as if you're opening the top of a box.
Attach the new brake shoes by holding each side open and sliding them over the brake drum.
Hold the shoe's retaining pin down while connecting the new retainer springs.
Reattach the new brake shoe return ring.
Reconnect the brake drum to your truck by rescrewing the anchoring screws and reclipping the retainer clips.
Repeat these steps for the other rear wheel of your truck.
