Can't get rear drums off 2000 Cav.

Was gonna inspect and replace rear shoes on daughters 2000 Cav. I can't get the drums off. What am I missing here? Other drum brakes I have worked on had a sloted hole to get at the star wheel adjuster, I don't see anything like that on these brakes. How do I go about compressing the shoes to get the drums off? Sometimes I really hate working on cars the simplest thing can really be a PIA!!

Thanks........

Well man... You don't have to compress anything. The drum should just pull right off. Unless it has been on there for sometime and has rusted to the hub. So if you plan on keeping that drum.. Get some penatrating oil (wd-40) or whatever and spray it around the hub. Next get a screw driver ( flat head) and work your way around the edges and pry that bitch off. If that dosn't work, i have used a welding torch and heated around the hub and sprayed more of the oil in there when it was being heated. Then i worked the screw driver and it finally popped off... Or you can always take a BFH ( big f&*king hammer) and beat that bitch off of there, i only did that when i was replacing the drums....Hope this was helpful.... good luck.

Yes use som penatrating oil and heat it with a torch but do heat to much might melt something and hit with hammer lightly then should pop off.

Your Brake Drum may have a Ridge, therefore you may have to back off the shoe adjustment. Use a brake adjustment tool or small screw driver.

Good Luck!

Mr.Rob

Lic Mech Auto/Truck/Diesel/Propane/Trailer/ ASE

You may need somthing like a impact wrench and they actually have an attachment that has a flat surface on it and it just beats the drum till the rust breaks free.

i'm sure you've checked this, but do not engage the emergency brake.