OEM 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier Brake Drum

2003 Chevrolet Cavalier Brake Drum Parts and Q&A

• Q: How to service and repair the brake drum on 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier?

  A: In order to service and repair the brake drum, first, observing that refinishing should not be involved in routine service to the system brake unless there is presence of conditions like excessive corrosion/rust, pitting, cracks, heat spots, excessive bluing discoloration, scoring beyond maximum allowable specification or radial runout present beyond maximum allowable specification. Check each brake drum for these conditions as well as measure their diameter when the tire and wheel assemblies are removed. If refinish is needed, clean the corrosion/rust off the brake drum flange using the J41013 Rotor/Drum Flange Resurfacing Kit (J41013) and attach the brake drum to the brake lathe as laid out by the manufacturer making sure vibration dampening attachments do not move. Cutting tool witness mark appears in contact with lathe, checking bracket drum friction surface. Follow the instructions of the lathe manufacturer to refinish the brake drum whereby checks are made on the diameter of the brake drum after every cutting in order to ensure that the diameter of the drum after refinish does not exceed the maximum allowable diameter after refinish specification. To have a non-directional finish, be sure to follow the suggested speed setting and use 120 grit aluminum oxide sandpaper if it has a non-directional finishing tool, or 150 grit aluminum oxide sandpaper with a sanding block if not. Clean all the friction surface with denatured alcohol or the equivalent brake cleaner after applying the finish. Lastly, take off the brake drum from the lathe and apply the J42450 -A Hub Cleaning kit (J42450-A) if it is required to clean out corrosion from the wheel bearing flange, otherwise this could cause you more runout to the side and a pulsating system on the braking system.