Unlike discs you cannot see the wear on the linings without taking the drum off also the loose debris needs to be removed.

How many miles? Are the brakes binding or squealing?

Only 16,000 miles and brakes are not binding or squealing

I stand to be corrected here, but i understand from when i ran a Hilux that Toyotas major/minor services alternate annually, based on 9k miles.

Minor service is oil change and inspection, major service is full brake service transmission fluid changes etc as well including removing the drums if fitted, any brake inspection requires removal of the drums at the very least.

I assume this is a nice little earner for the dealership to remove drums every service incl min oil service/minor.

I have a Kia Optima which has brake discs all round, but the handbrake is drum-in-hat type.

At the first service (20k / 1 year) under the high mileage service schedule they removed and cleaned all brake pads, not sure if they removed the rear drum, but definately did adjust the handbrake as part of the service (without being asked to).

On the Citroen I had before the service schedule never said to remove the pads and clean the sliding bits.

Is that how Citroen get lower servicing costs for fleet purposes, or how Kia/Hyundai keep their cars working longer and give better warranties? I think the answer is both.

Going back to the original question, there is no harm in having things done properly and if you are a low mileage driver the brake drum will probably never rid itself of rust and having it inspected/cleaned as part of a service will be good for keeping the car for the long term.

Ben

My cars manufacturer interval is 37,000miles for removal of the drums and inspection but, It has a rubber bung for inspecting the brake linings at every service.

Do you extract mk 1 eyeball from its socket and shove it through that bung hole to inspect the slave cylinder seals inside the dust covers, automatic adjusters and shoe friction surfaces too..;)

Don't get me wrong Mr Danno, wasn't having a pop at you i do similar to you, just the way things are going these days, was trying to be ironic and failing miserably as usual..;)

I've never liked the modern method of car brake servicing, fitter peers through or from behind a wheel sees some pad material in semi profile in the 1/2" section visible, squirts the caliper with brake cleaner and proudly pronounces the brakes as good, yeah right, same goes for drums, peers through the tiny port hole if you're lucky and pronounces all is well..

My brakes, disc drum whatever get fully stripped every year, everything inspected (you can only fully inspect pads when they are out) and any parts replaced as needed, caliper pistons pumped out and pushed back a few times, pistons and sliders cleaned and lubed and working correctly, all reassembled.

Drums removed, everything checked incl the auto adjuster is free to do its job, peel back dust cover, slide slave pistons both ways to check they are free moving and no leaks, key shoe friction surfaces, clean out drums, light greasing wherever needed, reassemble.

Bleed out system if needed.

How many times do we read about siezed calipers and pulling/snatching/overheating inefficient brakes, how many people keep the outsideof the car and the interior cleaned regularly by the local car wash, and never ever give the important things the slightest thought, people never cease to amaze.