Thanks for all the help! I am new here and not too knowledgeable about cars.

Just bought my Jeep about a week ago and I bought it knowing it needed new rear drums. When changing the drums, is it normal to not change the shoe inside the drums? Should they be done at the same time? Also, the rear drums get very hot to the touch, is this normal? Just had the rear axle seals and bearings done yesterday and they were faulty so they were changed again today could this be part of the problem? This work was performed by my fathers friend who owns his own shop. His labor rates seemed dirt cheap, maybe that is a sign?

 

For the shoes, I think it depends on the condition of them. If they look worn, then yeah, replace them. If they look brand new, keep them on. And as for being really hot, let me put is this way....After going from 45 to 0 in mine, I can light a cigar off the front rotors. Brakes generate a LOT of heat and rotors/ drums are basically like a giant heatsink.

 

Thanks man, it's just sometimes my dad's friends are a little sketchy. I'd like to think he did it correctly!

 

It's generally advisable to replace the shoes with the drums so you don't have any braking issues, but I've replaced my drums a couple times in the time I've had my Jeep and left the shoes on if they looked good. Never had any issues

 

Also, the front were converted to disc and it's the rear drums that heat very hot. If they weren't adjusted properly would the make a grinding sound?

 

Not sure I know what kind of "grinding sound" you mean....Can you describe it better?

 

Fronts were always discs on XJs.

If the drums are bad enough to warrant replacing, the shoes and all of the hardware in there should be done as well.

Where's this grinding sound coming from?

 

Actually, I think the axle bearing is shot, again, is there a possible underlying problem that might cause axle bearings to break?