Replacing rear drum brake pads (Renault Espace III)

Note: Always replace all pads on one axle of the vehicle, even if only one pad is worn. If brake pads are to be reinstalled, they must be marked before removal.

Removal

• Loosen the parking brake cable tension near the compensator
• Remove the hub cap using tools Rou. 943 and Emb. 880
• Loosen the hub mounting nut
• Remove the hub and brake drum assembly, using a piece of cloth to protect the inner bearing ring
• Use brake shoe pliers to remove the upper brake shoe tension spring (1. Fig. 12.12).

Fig. 12.11. Elements of a drum brake: 1 - cap; 2 - hub mounting nut; 3 - brake drum; 4 - brake pad support unit against lateral movement; 5 - lower tension spring; 6 - upper tension spring;7 - brake shoe; 8 - brake shoe; 9 - spring; 10 - brake shoe clearance adjustment mechanism (expansion bar); 11 - working brake cylinder; 12 - brake shield

Fig. 12.12. Elements of the rear drum brake mechanism: 1 - upper tension spring; 2 - automatic clearance adjustment spring; 3 - adjustment lever; 4 - brake shoe clearance adjustment mechanism (expansion bar); 5 - parking brake lever; 6 - brake shoe support unit against lateral movement; 7 - brake shoe; 8 - brake shoe; 9 - hub; 10 - hub mounting nut

• Using pliers Fre. 573-01, disconnect the parking brake cable.
• Remove the adjusting lever tension spring and adjusting lever (3).
• Press, turn a quarter turn and remove the side brake shoe retainers (6).
• Remove the spacer adjustment bar.
• If there is no ABS sensor, remove the brake pads by crossing them over the journal to clear the lower tension spring from under the support pin bracket.
• If you have an ABS sensor, cross the brake pads on the trunnion, use a screwdriver to disconnect the tension spring from one pad, and then disconnect it from the other pad.

Installation

• Use brake cleaner to remove dust from the brake drum and shoes.
• If there is no ABS sensor, attach the lower spring hooks to the brake pads, cross the brake pads over the journal, place the lower tension spring behind the support pin bracket and install the brake pads.
• If you have an ABS sensor, place the lower tension spring behind the support pin bracket, attach the tension spring to one of the pads, cross the pads, then attach the tension spring to the second pad and install the brake pads.
• Install the adjusting spacer bar, then insert the side brake shoe clamps into place, press and rotate a quarter turn, install the upper return spring, the adjusting lever tension spring and the adjusting lever. Using the Fre 573 pliers, attach the parking brake cable and install the lever with the stop against the brake shoe.
• Make sure the ends of the upper and lower tension springs are correctly positioned on the brake shoes.
• Using a screwdriver, turn the ratchet wheel of the spacer bar to adjust the position of the brake pads so that their diameter is 228 mm.
• Install the hub and brake drum assembly, but do not tighten the hub mounting nut.
• With the engine running, press the brake pedal several times to center the brake pads.
• Turn the brake drum, it should rotate easily, barely touching the brake shoes. Otherwise, turn the ratchet wheel of the spacer bar in one direction or another.
• Adjust the parking brake.
• Gradually tighten the parking brake cables on the compensator so that the hand brake shoe levers begin to move when the parking brake lever is raised to a position between the first and second sector teeth and remain free when the lever is installed on the second sector tooth.
• Install the brake drums and tighten the nuts to the specified torque.
• Install the hub caps, filling them with grease if necessary.
• Install the plugs on the brake shoe backing plates.