93 drum brakes stuck

[andante147]

I have a 93 LX 1.9 coupe, rear drum brakes.

I was feeling the d.s. rear brakes stick and make loud noise, so I pulled both rear wheels. Looked ok, but the passenger side rear cylinder showed fluid leaking. So I put it back together to go get the parts. Now the p.s. rear is totally seized up.

I will put new wheel cylinders, springs and shoes on ... but there are the issues ..

1. the p.s. will be a bear to get off because it's seized. I can't figure out how to get to an adjustment to free it up from outside the drum.

2. IF the original problem was seized parking brake/adjustment mechanism, I can't find a replacement mechanism anywhere - no dealers, no auto parts stores, not on Rock Auto's online data base. Any ideas?

3. That mechanism has an arm that comes in through the back, then is joined to the arm that you see from the open brake system. Should that arm move freely at the joint? This is frozen solid. Again ... can't find a replacement part! I have some spray on it now, seeing if I can get it to free up.

So... help getting drum off (by adjusting, release parking brake, whatever)?
Help repairing or locating the adjusting/parking brake arm?

Thanks

[mightymoose_22]

disconnect the fluid line from the wheel cylinders and loosen up the parking brake cable by adjusting at the handle... I believe there is a screw or a nut in there that will give slack.

If there is a bolt hole in the drum (and there should be) thread a bolt into it to try and push the the drum off. If that doesn't work for you then use a brass drift and a BFH at the edges of the drum to work it off. A combination of the two methods may work well too.

[mightymoose_22]

Also, do yourself a favor and make sure the vehicle is very secure since the pbrake will be off and you will be putting some serious oomph into that rear wheel.

[denisond3]

That mechanism that combines the parking brake function and the self-adjust function is probably able to be freed up. The arm that comes in from the parking brake connection may require some soaking and tapping - then working it back and forth in some kind of solvent; like kerosene. The other end will likely be easier to free up - it needs to slide a little bit.
Even if the brake shoes were not dragging, its possible the drum wont want to come off of the hub, due to the close fit of the drum on the hub. The two threaded holes may help to push it off, or you may just strip the threads out. I used a combination of hammering inward (toward the center of the car) on the face of the drum, but close to the edge. This made it move out on the opposite side a little. I did this back and forth, and it finally came loose from the hub. Penetrating oil is good too. At some point you could put a screwdriver in between the rear edge of the drum and the brake backing plate to help move the drum off. If you are able to put a long steel bar across two of the wheel studs, to turn the drum, that would also help.
One of the drums on my 92 Escort came off after i heated the drum with my acetylene torch - both at the point where it met the hub, and along the outer cylindrical part of the drum.
There are two bolts holding the parking brake cable to the drum. With these unbolted, you might be able to get the cable off of the little 'arm' sticking out of the back of the brake backing plate. Then you could hammer the little arm in the direction opposite to the direction the cable normally pulls it.
The only source for that mechanism at this time would likely be a junkyard - where you would have some of the same problems getting the drum off.
Good Luck...