Drum Brake Removal

1995 Sedan 1.3

I wanted to check the thickness of my brake shoes today. I could not remove the drums. I removed the two retaining screws and could not budge the drums. I tried relieving the tension by pushing through the small hole on the back with a small screwdriver also. I believe on this model there is no need to remove the hub nut.

I hit all around the drum edge with a hammer and still no go.

I have removed drum brakes on other GM cars and they would just slide right off. These are stuck on. Am I doing something wrong?

I opened up the drums on mine a couple or years ago or so to check the shoes and as I recall they slid right off. Maybe the drums have corroded. Try some penetrating oil and see what happens. I guess you can try a puller - I think the FSM has listed a puller tool for the job but it has been a while now since I did the job so I cannot recall exactly.

Did you release the emergency brake? Not hinting that you are a dummy, I've done that myself. Rear drums were done both ways on the 95 and newer Metros. Some have a separate hub and drum which comes off the way you describe. Some have the hub and bearings built into the drum and you have to remove the center nut. If you have the two countersunk screws between the lug nuts, I'm pretty sure you have the separate hub and drum. There is a method of fishing around with a screwdriver through a hole in the backing plate to release the self-adjuster, but until you've had it apart and looked at the mechanism closely, it's almost impossible to visualize how to do this.

Yes, that's a good point - forgot about the 2 styles. I believe you have one style or the other depending on whether the car has ABS or not. Mine does not have ABS.

1995 Sedan 1.3

I wanted to check the thickness of my brake shoes today. I could not remove the drums. I removed the two retaining screws and could not budge the drums. I tried relieving the tension by pushing through the small hole on the back with a small screwdriver also. I believe on this model there is no need to remove the hub nut.

I hit all around the drum edge with a hammer and still no go.

I have removed drum brakes on other GM cars and they would just slide right off. These are stuck on. Am I doing something wrong?


Thanks for the replies...My car does Not have ABS. I've posted a picture below of the drum with the retaining screws removed.

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll97/dragonofthenorth/drum.jpg

hello, the other 2 screw holes are for removal,get 2 self tapping bolts screw them in to push drum off.Good Luck

I believe the other two holes should already be threaded

You need to take that cap thing in the middle off first or the hub will not come off. Use a chisel or similar to pry it off. Don't try pullling it off without removing it first.

sorry hot,but no need to remove dust cap drum will slide over!!Good Luck

I rechecked the FSM to see what the deal was on this. Based on that as well as my recollection of the procedure - I believe the center spindle nut holds the drum in place. You need to take off the dust cap and check but I think you will find the spindle nut is holding the drum in place. I recall having to remove the spindle nut.

Here is the info from the FSM - hopefully that will help you.

http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb240/rperinpa/drum1.jpg

http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb240/rperinpa/drum2.jpg

http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb240/rperinpa/drum33.jpg

I rechecked the FSM to see what the deal was on this. Based on that as well as my recollection of the procedure - I believe the center spindle nut holds the drum in place. You need to take off the dust cap and check but I think you will find the spindle nut is holding the drum in place. I recall having to remove the spindle nut.

Wow! Thank you!, that is good information...Just to add to the confusion...Are the FSM instructions referring to the 4 door sedan or 2 door hatchback?

The pictures below are from Rockauto and the drums between the sedan and hatchback are somewhat different. The hatchback drum looks like it is held in by a spindle nut.

This is the Sedan Drum
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll97/dragonofthenorth/SedanDrum.jpg

This is the Hatchback Drum
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll97/dragonofthenorth/HatchbackDrum.jpg

The FSM does not differentiate between sedan and the hatchback. I think what Rockauto is mistakenly showing is the ABS and non-ABS drum. The ABS drum appears to come right off and there is no dust cap unlike the non-ABS drum - at least that's what I can see from the info in the FSM.

The picture citydragon posted of the drum on his car is obviously a separate hub and drum setup. As I said before, IF IT HAS TWO COUNTERSUNK SCREWS BETWEEN THE LUG NUTS, THE HUB DOES NOT COME OFF. If the hub and drum are one peice what possible purpose would those two screws serve?

You might also have to back off the emergency brake cable adjustor.

The picture citydragon posted of the drum on his car is obviously a separate hub and drum setup. As I said before, IF IT HAS TWO COUNTERSUNK SCREWS BETWEEN THE LUG NUTS, THE HUB DOES NOT COME OFF. If the hub and drum are one peice what possible purpose would those two screws serve?

LOL so true... Woodie's right guys. Do as the man said, find a screw that matches the THREADED HOLES in the drum, and crank it down til the bastard pops off. This is simple stuff guys. :popcorn:

-MechanicMatt