91 rear brakes

Hello

Does anyone know how to back off the brake shoes on a 91 LeSabre? I don't see any rubber plug in the backing plate. Where is the adjuster located on this thing (other than inside the brake drum :nono: )? I'm thinking that it's on the bottom.

Thanks for your help.


Regards

Dan

Inside, unfortunately.

Hello

Does anyone know how to back off the brake shoes on a 91 LeSabre? I don't see any rubber plug in the backing plate. Where is the adjuster located on this thing (other than inside the brake drum :nono: )? I'm thinking that it's on the bottom.

Thanks for your help.


Regards

Dan

Anyone else have any ideas?

Idea here is the drum won't come off because of the lip formed on back of the drum, it's of prying and beating, make sure the parking brake cable is backed off also.

http://www.websmileys.com/sm/party/fest37.gif

If you are good with a torch, you can cut a hole in the front of the drum, near the bottom of the front side. Make the cut quick, so as not to damage anything behind the cutting. If you get your springs hot, you will need to replace them, which is not a bad idea anyway, when changing shoes! I have used this method for years and it does not the hurt the integrity of the drum. In addition to the "ridge", maxwedge mentioned, an accumulation of brake dust can make them difficult to get off, that is why I remove mine occasionally and wash them out with a water hose and relube the adjuster and shoe contact points to the backing plate.

http://www.websmileys.com/sm/party/fest37.gif

If you are good with a torch, you can cut a hole in the front of the drum, near the bottom of the front side. Make the cut quick, so as not to damage anything behind the cutting. If you get your springs hot, you will need to replace them, which is not a bad idea anyway, when changing shoes! I have used this method for years and it does not the hurt the integrity of the drum. In addition to the "ridge", maxwedge mentioned, an accumulation of brake dust can make them difficult to get off, that is why I remove mine occasionally and wash them out with a water hose and relube the adjuster and shoe contact points to the backing plate.

Thanks HotZ and Maxwedge!

I kinda figured that I would have to go through the drum. I see an outline of an ovel in the drum. I'll make a hole there and start probbing for the adjuster.

Regards

Dan

Thanks HotZ and Maxwedge!

I kinda figured that I would have to go through the drum. I see an outline of an ovel in the drum. I'll make a hole there and start probbing for the adjuster.

Regards

Dan
Update

I got the drums off. They had to be heated as the center was tight on the hub. The adjuster is on the top on this vintage. I used a cold chisel to open up the ovel that I mentioned above in my last post. I used a bycycle spoke with a vicegrip to pull away the adjuster finger from the star wheel and used a screwdriver to turn the wheel.

Hopefully someone will find this post and be able to use the information.

Regards

Dan

Dan thanks for the feedback. I am sure that it will help someone with similar problems. Some additional tricks to add to the above;

I usually take a heavy rubber mallet and hit the front outside upper rim of the drum, with a swift & heavy blow, to knock the drum loose from the hub. Once off of the hub, clean the rust from the hub and inside of drum where it mounts to the hub with a wire brush. After cleaning both surfaces, paint them both with a good rust preventative paint.
The next time you have to pull them off, it will be a walk in the park! :iceslolan

Dan thanks for the feedback. I am sure that it will help someone with similar problems. Some additional tricks to add to the above;

I usually take a heavy rubber mallet and hit the front outside upper rim of the drum, with a swift & heavy blow, to knock the drum loose from the hub. Once off of the hub, clean the rust from the hub and inside of drum where it mounts to the hub with a wire brush. After cleaning both surfaces, paint them both with a good rust preventative paint.
The next time you have to pull them off, it will be a walk in the park! :iceslolan

HotZ

Thanks for the feedback!

I think I would be there all day if I tried it with a rubber mallet. Those things were really on there. I took two prybars and put some psi on the drum. Then I heated the drum in the center until I heard it pop. The fight was all gone. I'll have to do the paint to stop the rust. I dont' konw when the last time those were off. It's not my car.

Regards

Dan