Rear Brakes Drums Stuck

[RIP]

Can't get the rear brake drums off the hub. I have disconnected the parking brake cable so there's plenty of slack. I've run the cable back and forth many times. There's 3 access plugs on the back. Looking through the one on the top I can see what appears to be a shielded cable - p brake? I see nothing but brake liner and backing through the fwd and aft holes. Don't see an adjustment wheel to get to. There are no threaded holes to insert bolts on the face of the drum to try to push the drum off. I can slide the drum out about 3/8s inch and thats it. Seems the lower forward part of the drum is what's binding. Anybody know a trick of the trade? Ryan

[slantsixness]

turn your brake adjuster down

Insert a screwdriver in one of the holes (near the bottom) to push the actuator arm off the adjustment wheel.

with a brake spoon (or another screwdriver) turn the adjustment wheel from the other hole until its loose, like it's going to fall out.

remove drum.

Alnternatively, rust can cinch the drum on around the hub. if that's the case, a bit of emory cloth and sand the hub around the edge contacting the drum hub hole.

Lastly, and as a last resort, cut the shoe retaining pins (look like nail heads, left and right midway up the backing plate) and the whole thing should fall apart. Any auto parts store will carry new pins. be careful to get the right length, or even slightly shorter, but never longer!

When you reassemble:
Be carefull to look at the bottom: the shoes go BEHIND that plate on the bottom, otherwise, the shoe(s) will scrape the drum and you'll think they're still bad!

Hope this helped you,

Slantsixness

(Don't use a hammer like the old days, you will bend or warp the drum!)