1995 Chevy K1500 Complete rear drum brakes replacement 4x4 - Tips n Tricks

I do a full rear drum brake replacement job on the 1995 k1500 including brake cylinders, drums, shoes, and all hardware. Plus some one-man bleeding tips!
Be sure to LIKE and SUBSCRIBE! It really helps!

[@rileyscott3756]

16 years old here, get my license in a few weeks. Doing the brakes on my 89. First truck, first time doing brakes. This video really explained things, and definitely helped me figure out how to do it far better than just watching my dad do it.

[@Chevy-hw6lw]

I think you just did an entire brake job without one cuss word ! Nice shirt by the way! Thanks for the video it was real helpful!

[@robgaskins8181]

Jason, your video saved my Tahoe today. I swear I was gonna burn that truck to the ground! I Googled the brakes and your video came up. You are a fantastic instructor. Thank you sir, I owe you a cold adult beverage or two.

[@0ptimal]

Just wanna say thank you for this. I used every bit of it yesterday, and everything went perfectly.

[@Twosacker]

Fantastic job of explaining what you're doing as you work on it, and camera placements are thoughtful too. This is the best video I've found for doing drums on similar setup's. I'll be looking at your work first if I need to do anything else on my '96 Chevy 1500. Well done sir.

[@lr2240]

Ive spent the past few hours seeing other walk-throughs, yours is by far the most simple, descriptive and common sense approach. Thank you for the help!!!

[@nrgyzr2012]

Brother, I just wanted to say you are a freaking lifesaver! I got a 97 Sierra with the same rear drum setup. Everyone elses vids are for like 98's & up. Thank you for taking the time to make this video. Its been a GREAT help for me!!

[@danhillam]

Thanks for an excellent video Jason. I should have watched this before I started! This is one of those jobs where the sequence of events matters! Great job.

[@Ben-tx8rj]

have watched this about 3 times in prep for my truck. just to make sure i can do it streamlined without too much research during the job. thank again for the cylinder trick, my line is seized to the nut.

[@blakebrass125]

Man, I watched a video like 10 years ago was the last time I did rear drums on my ford explorer. The 93 Chevy I have also has rear drums but you made this look so efficient and easy. The one I watched 10 years ago was so complicated and way more difficult. Glad I found this vid. I'm saving this. Great job bud 👍👌

[@VashStarwind]

You see that oval-ish orange grommet at 12:00? Thats how you adjust the brakes (decompress/compress), take the orange grommet out and you use a flat head screw driver on the gear lookin thing (the thing at 24:11) and push/turn it up or down to adjust the brakes. Just for anyone reading the comments that this may help out.

[@robertdavis9240]

That is not true where that orange plug is that's to inspect your pads the adjuster is in the middle on the other side so that orange grommet is not used for that on these trucks you cannot do that

[@VashStarwind]

@Robert Davis ​ @Robert Davis Yes you can I have personally done it. There are 2 different oval "inspection" windows on the back of where the drum goes. There is one for inspecting the wear of the pad on the brake itself, and one to adjust the tension of the brake. One on the top and one on the side. The grommets also may be a different color, like black. They arent always orange. The grommet at 12:00 is the one for adjusting tension. The grommet in the background at 24:11 is the one for Inspecting. There are 2 different grommets. Ive done brake jobs on this truck with the bigger size drum brakes and it was the same exact thing.

[@burnerloco4138]

your wrong, GM trucks do not have access thru the baking plate to the brake adjuster. on that year and some other in that era...

[@VashStarwind]

@@burnerloco4138 Well the one I worked on sure as crap did.. It actually had two. One for inspecting, and one for adjusting. Sometimes the grommets are black instead of orange.

[@burnerloco4138]

@VashStarwind all gmt 400 with a 10” drum do not have any hole to adjust the shoes which is what he is working on. Now HD and trucks with 11” drums do. So that’s what you were probably working on

[@luke9511]

watching you do this reminds me i need to do the front rotors and rear pads on my truck.

[@kennethpullen6889]

Thanks so much! I had no reference for mine so I didn't even know where to begin. I did the driver's side according to a video another person has on KZbin. It seemed way harder than it should so I researched it again before doing the passenger side and came across your video. The steps you and he take are the complete opposite. Not only was this way easier it took a third of the time! It also took less effort, strength, and pain!!

[@leemorgan4037]

Been sitting here at home very sick, bored and a 1988 Scottsdale I love to wrench on and have not been able to for some time due to poor health at the ripe old age of 45, sick to death of TV but found your video and wanted to say you have done a fantastic job producing this. And like you I have never had that spring tool, I do have brake spoons and pliers but rarely use them. very nice video thank you.

[@googleuser868]

Needle nose vise grips worked great for me on the smaller spring under the shoes.

[@johncobb2695]

Great video, you really did a great job, I didn't think about the adjustment, I will use it when replacing my rear drums. Thanks for taking your time to help your fellow man.

[@innonativeoutdoors]

Hey thanks alot for posting this video and doing a great job on the tutorial. My cousins cylinder gasket tore and was leaking brake fluid. Fixed it in a parking lot in the middle of nowhere with just the tools we had in our trucks. Thanks again.

[@rmarty550]

I'm doing my 92 next week. Very helpful, thanks!

[@tommymartin2551]

Thanks for the video. Wish me luck tomorrow when I try to put the shoes and springs back on. Thanks again 👍🏻

[@jeremynoakes6040]

thank you so very much your the only guy that has the same breaks I have on KZbin this helped so much plus I didn't get annoyed with your video Lol film what ever else you do to that k1500 I am keeping mine forever cheers from Canada

[@susanfinlay2882]

Thanks so much for the well done video. I'm doing this tomorrow on a '93 and this will be a great reference!

[@juanrivera6517]

I did my rear brakes by watching this video . Thank you sir.

[@systematic630]

This is the best and most thorough video I've seen. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!

[@tpinnock81]

554th

[@zerolatitude2923]

Well done. September 2019, just did my 1990 Silverado with your help. Take a buck out of petty cash! Much appreciated.

[@leerose4525]

Thanks for this great vid. I have an 89 k2500 that I found has k1500 drums and shoes on the back. Vid was very useful.

[@camarokurt]

Must be the light duty 2500 model as they made 2 different variants. A light duty with six lug wheels and a heavy duty with the 8 lug wheels.

[@garydoyle7155]

the plate you keep referring to is a backing plate and when you clean the contact pads with the wire brush I prefer to do that before you install the new wheel cylinder because if by accident you contact those rubber end seals you could damage them no biggy just a cautionary deal. Now for a little FYI you can pull the wheel cylinder without moving the shoes (if you aren't replacing the shoes just replacing a leaky cylinder) by simply applying the E-brake because that pivots the shoes off the wheel cylinder pistons. One other thing while spinning the wheel cylinder off the line works you should then wire brush and WD or PB Blaster the line till it turns - - if it is severely rusted on there then its going to fail and you should replace now rather than when it pops going down the road not to mention the additional work of bleeding the system all over again. Use a regular set of plyers to remove and reinstall the retainers caps by getting the cap in the serrations of the plyers (as you mentioned later)as it gives you more surface area and more control. One other tip that helps have the flat tips of that retaining pin at 12 and 6 clocking and hold it there from the back then put the cap in the plyers with the same orientation that way you can push the capt directly on and then turn to lock it in the indent. To lessen the fooling around with bleeding - - gravity bleed by opening the bleeder til fluid runs steadily out the bleeder and for the bleed technique your about to do use a clear glass container with clean fluid in the bottom 1/4 of it and if you leave your camera there directly on it you can check and you'll see when bubbles stop coming out as you are up front in the cab pumping the brakes - - you'll see a swirl which means all fluid running through - - nice job

[@robkowalski7497]

Well done! You helped me immensely! I wish I could buy you a cold beer!! Many Thanks!!

[@galaxyprime6543]

Well done!! Thank you Hope your video makes it to the Top of the list... took me a lot of searching to find your video.. Best Video on KZbin..5Stars

[@pauld.1256]

Thank you Jason for this information and video.. going to be doing this on my 97 real soon

[@MrMunchiemo]

Thanks bud ! That was the best video on KZbin on rear brakes.

[@adampinto5274]

Good video. I like the longer length step-by-step do-it-yourself videos.

[@kendebmast9728]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us! Great video!

[@duganfr]

Thanks for video! Just bought an 88 4x4 and going to do a brake job on it

[@jerryfrenzel8600]

This video sure helped me out of a bad situation. Thankks

[@mastermark395]

I agree, one of the best videos I have seen. Thanks for sharing.

[@tenwalls2428]

Thanks. Made my day, for sure. However, it still took me about half an hour to get the auto adjuster springs in place and then almost another half hour getting that bottom spring back on. Mine is much, much stiffer and shorter than the aftermarket one you're using in the video. Still though, couldn't have done it without your video. Doing the other wheel tomorrow. lol.

[@googleuser868]

Thanks for the spring info. My retainer pin rusted into and made a mess. Locked up the wheel. Original brake shoes on a 98 z71 Silverado with 115k. Shoes got a little damage and chipped the brake material off. New shoes, hardware, and wheel cylinders getting replaced. Dang Indiana road salt. Probably could have got another 50k miles on the shoes before they were wore out.

[@Domino859]

Best description video I've ever seen for this type of brakes I'm looking forward to doing mine soon and he makes it look farely simple good job man

[@AndyDaClimber]

Good information here. A lot of folks these days will just ride it till the wheels fall off.

[@HDgodfrey]

Really great vid! Super easy to follow!

[@jasonyoung22]

Great in-depth video! I will be using all the knowledge because we have Inherited my fiance his grandfather's 1994 extended cab K 1500. Which I assume is exactly the same. Thank you so much!!!

[@gofast3209]

I also have a 94 extended cab 1500. Its is the same.

[@garydoyle7155]

One other thing when you are going to do brake work on the K1500 series trucks you have to know what size brakes are on it as they 10 inch and 11 inch - - not only are the shoes and drums different but so are the wheel cylinders. Yesterday I made the mistake of thinking the person at the parts counter knew what they were doing when they pulled my parts but as soon as I picked up the box with the drum in it I knew something was wrong - - if you can believe it she supposedly pulled parts for a 10 inch brakes but the box had a rotor in it. We got that straightened out and I went home and started work only to find some how she had also given me 11 inch shoes for a 10 inch drum - - shame on me I should have looked because the 10s are a little over 2 inches wide whereas the 11s are 3 inches wide not to mention too damn long to even fit in a 10 inch drum. 10 inch are pretty much standard but pull a wheel and pop off the drum and measure inside lip to lip - - good luck smelling of brake fluid for a couple of days - - been doing it over 50 years and still not used to it

[@RobManVids]

Thank you. Great video. I have a 1992 K-1500. It is the exact same set up.

[@defensorfortis6105]

Excellent video! Very informative.

[@freedomslight9580]

Great and informative video, still liking it in October 2019. Keep'em runnin'! The only thing I would've included is some of the technical reasons for changing some of the parts. Like when and if you have to change them.

[@gofast3209]

This video help ALOT!!!!! 1st time i ever attempted this. Thank you!!!!

[@supermansdh]

very helpful, shows a lot of vitAL INFORMATION. THANK you so much. REALLY APPRECIATE it.

[@mid-west_man]

Great video, thanks for sharing, putting that adjust lever and spring on is not as easy as you make it look. but I got it on.

[@catboss6912]

Thanks you are the only one i can get help from!

[@oldschoolchevyfan5493]

Excellent video. That is a cool Blackhawk floor jack.

[@holdenhill6357]

Great video👍🏻 good descriptions

[@estebandelatrinidad9241]

Great video my friend thank u very much for your video

[@brucemaier3943]

Thank you so much! My 88 chev truck has the same setup and I photoed it prior to the job..unfortunately the self-adjusting levers on the back were on wrong by the guy who had it before me, so I was really confused. He had the springs on wrong and the lever wouldn't notch into the adjuster. Now I can get my beloved truck on the road again! I subscribed and will tall all my friends to subscribe as well.

[@jen4674]

when we bought our 1996 k1500 4x4 a few month ago they had just put new brakes all the way around and it stopped great. after a few weeks brakes got worse and we figured out rear shoes had come out of adjustment. after watching this video my husband figured out the spring for the adjuster arm to hold it to the adjuster gear was on wrong. it was on the outside of arm and shoe allowing brakes to adjust in. after moving spring to behind arm and shoe the arm now rests on gear and no more brakes coming out of adjustment.

[@tombecker6540]

Great video and well explained, thanks.

[@ther1rida]

YOU SAVED MY DAY!!!!! 1994 K1500

[@dpearson9239]

Thanks man, this helped a lot!

[@rebekahhadley4298]

Trick to remove wheel cylinder/brake line is awesome thanks

[@Jw509x]

Great video! Just did my drums and shoes on a 97 gmc k1500 and everything went perfect! Now to chase the spongey pedal on the first stroke 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@camarokurt]

I flushed my entire system, even tried bleeding the ABS. The spongy pedal remains. I'm going to take mine in to my mechanic and see whet they say. (1998 GMC k1500 Suburban.)

[@Fernandro]

@@camarokurt what was the solution?

[@nrgyzr2012]

Ok. Now I understand why they feel spongy. I bled the brakes. But I did not realize they self -adjust in reverse only. That explains why they still feel so spongy. I only drove it forward. Thank you again.

[@elcompamartinez2647]

you still driving it in reverse now? 2023?

[@nrgyzr2012]

@@elcompamartinez2647 Yes. Everywhere I Go 🤣🤣🤣! I didn't realize that they self adjust only when backing up.

[@elcompamartinez2647]

@@nrgyzr2012 Good to know !!i'm doing mine as i watch the video (about 100 times)

[@armandomiranda7244]

Great video and really helpful, thanks a lot!

[@cocoaman435]

Thanks for the upload, this video site did educate me on them shows. Thanks a bunch! We’ll explained!

[@jorgefonseca9225]

great vedeo mate i have a suburban 95 is a 8bolts a litle diferent but the sistem is similar nice work best regards from norway

[@southwest5388]

Black Beauty is the name of my 97 K-1500 and I will love her forever...

[@Laffy1345]

working on a dodge ram pu.. thank you for the information.

[@alexanderjames334]

that was really helpful thanks for the video

[@thisdayage7997]

looks like a leaky axle seal ?! i just did a full rebuild on my 96 Silverado rear diff , new posi,gears,bearings & seals ….before i started i bought all new acdelco drums,shoes, wheel cylinders, spring kit, self adjusting kit for each side so im doing my final assembly so thank you for the Video 🙏 i also did shocks and now about to fill fluid and assemble brakes & bleed them out 💪

[@savedbygrace246]

best detailed video ever. 2 thumbs up

[@grandforks1682]

Did anyone else giggle a little when he said,"...how you would get it off without beating it too much..."

[@lllgeovanylll]

thanks for this video help me a lot

[@Bcapp]

Thanks for the great video.

[@reevesautomotivefarm9614]

good video and thanks so much. one thing though I wouldn't put anti size on the axle flange surface. I would be concerned that the bolts could sheer because we depend on the friction between the flange face and the wheel to hold the wheel on. if they can move much at all the bolts will be in sheer and that would not be good.

[@MisterCharlesL]

Great video! Thanks!

[@sberryscake]

excellent video!

[@benknarf2135]

hey any suggestions on the brake adjuster. im having trouble lining it up correctly

[@Shawnee.Hills.Small.Engine]

Good video, thanks. I've done drum brake jobs on many vehicles (GM Ford and Chrysler) but had never experienced anything like this. Aside from not having to manually adjust them, what is the point of this setup? Is it something in regard to the ABS or just cheap?

[@westcoast6162]

Very good video!

[@uosdwishpoom]

Little tip. Use wire brush or wire wheel to clean brake line at the cylinder nut and spray with PB Blaster and use a line wrench and rock the nut back and forth and it will come loose without breaking the brake line.

[@royarmstrong8441]

Awesome video. I do have a question though. In the past working on these type of brakes my Haynes manual says put the spring washer between the adjuster and shoe. Most of the trucks Ive done have it like you did on the outside of adjuster. Do you think it matters?

[@BOSS_805]

This is a helpful video thanks

[@cwb12561]

I’m trying to convert drum brakes to disk on a 97 Chevy z71 4x4 using parts from 04 gmc Serria 4x4 the backing plate doesn’t fit any suggestions

[@MrMunchiemo]

Cool man thanks for sharing

[@nrgyzr2012]

Does this truck in the video not have abs? Mine is a 97 with the ABS system. Do I have to bleed the ABS system itself also?

[@anthonyk]

i have a 1998 k1500 but the drum is bigger than that one. what should i do

[@westcoast6162]

The smartest thing to do is to not remove the emergency shit spring from lever..👍

[@richardstepanian9156]

great video

[@nathanminton7323]

I have the same truck but when I brake I feal a bouncing and my front roters are smooth are the drums bad?

[@MidwestToolReview]

Just replace the brake line leading up to the brake cylinder. Don’t be lazy by spinning the cylinder off the line. Brake fluid is ver corrosive, and that combined with age, warrants replacement of the brake lines. Measure the length of the line, then purchase from local hardware store. It will come already flared and fittings installed. Of course, you can buy just the line, then install fittings and flare the ends if you’d like. You can also purchase a complete brake line kit for these trucks, which includes lines, fittings, etc., and functions as a plug & play system. Just do the job right folks, and don’t cut corners, like trying to preserve worn out, corroded brake line. FYI, when you replace major brake components like wheel cylinders and calipers, This usually results in higher system pressures, as you’re no longer leaking fluid, loss of system pressure. That said, other lines are likely to blow out, so replacing worn/corroded lines is always a good idea, especially for those of us who live in the Midwest!!

[@burnerloco4138]

loosen the brake line before removing the wheel cylinder its makes it a little easier, also be prepared to replace the brake line cause if its rusty it will probably twist off, especially if you live in the rust belt states.

[@TooFurious4]

Did you put anti seize on the self adjuster?

[@michaelsoutherland3023]

Know how to do the brake part but how did you get the wheel off ? I like how the video starts !

[@Autostoke]

Is The adjustment screw washer supposed to face outward? Lost

[@rogermacdanold6719]

Good job BUBBA!!

[@suttonracing2957]

Okay 2 things if you line the nozzle up with the line on the can you can empty the can with out shaking it 2nd thing is brake clean works allot better if you get an air gun and blow on the parts at the same time

[@tistricky8340]

You saved my butt brutha! Gteat video. Where do I send you a beer?

[@HorsepowerHouse]

For 1988-1998 C/K1500 - Anyone have a video or even a diagram or anything on the parking brake assembly, including the parking brake cables, The Equalizer thing and whatnot? I cannot find anything online on how to install this correctly. Unbelievable. Been searching for hours.

[@ernestmalloy7440]

How can I convert them to disc rotors

[@rmp608]

Excellent!!

[@andrewwilliams4491]

I wish I could say this video helped me. I have a 95 Tahoe and between this video and a few others, I’ve got mine on Jack stands still. You don’t do close up as to how shit fits behind the studs and for some reason, all your springs seems to just pop in wherever. If you could be a little more thorough with each step for people who’ve never touched shoe brakes before, that’d be better. But then again, this video was 5 years ago so I’m talking to nobody

[@billnickles4397]

thank uuu that was very helpful the best,,,,

[@jeremycribb4696]

Thanks for the info. I am fixing to put brakes on my 4x4, I just swapped my 10 bolt for a 14 bolt, and the 14 bolt axle needs new brakes. I searched for chevy specific drum brakes, this is the first video I have seen for the 88-98 truck brakes, everything else was too new for me.

[@StevesAutoNtrucks]

Jeremy Cribb I just swapped my 10 bolt for a 14 bolt semi float 97 Z71 and I put a u bolt flip kit on it.. I also put a 9 inch RCX lift on it and 3 inch body lift. how did your swap go?

[@jeremycribb4696]

It was actually pretty easy. The only used part I kept was the drums, everything else I ordered new. I did give up and pay extra through LMC truck for the parking brake cables, because the parts stores weren't specific enough with which side did what, only length. LMC had it broken down by right rear etc. worth the extra money to know I had the right part the first time. I already had the odd ball u joint for the axle because mine is a 94 Z71, it was a direct swap.

[@logancorwin8983]

Jeremy Cribb what size was the wheel cylinder

[@jeremycribb4696]

It was whatever Autozone had in stock. I am not aware of any specific size. I ordered it specific to the axle. For me I have the 14 bolt 9.5 inch 6 lug rear axle (light duty 3/4 ton, also known as the semi floating rear axle). I no longer have the stock 10 bolt the truck was originally equipped with, I upgraded after the 10 bolt gave out.

[@StevesAutoNtrucks]

Look in the rear end, it has the year the rear was made stamped in it