Self-inflicted Brake problem

[Chuck Tribolet]

This morning I went to pull the right rear brake drum and see if I can could figure out what was causing an occasional nasty
squeal during light, very low speed, braking. And it was time to clean and lube and such.

To get the drum off, I needed to loosen the adjustment. I stupidly TIGHTENED
the adjustment. DUH. I can't get it to loosen. Yes, I'm pushing the adjuster lever out of the way (bent piece of hacksaw blade
does the job, if anybody has a better idea for pushing the adjuster lever out of the way, I'd love to hear it.). The adjuster wheel
simply won't turn.

I have the left side drum off so I can clearly see how everything works.

Anybody have any ideas, short of cutting the drum in half with my pneumatic cutoff wheel?

[ARKQX33V6]

Use a bent tool. Bent at 45 degree with a wide base but thin enough to fit within the spurs of the adjuster wheel. If you were able to turn the adjuster the wrong way force this adjustment tool against the oval hole opening and use the leverage the tool makes between the spur and the hole edge. Do not push the actuator into the wheel assembly as you need tons of stroke power to turn that adjuster.

With the bent adjuster in hand, balanced to turn just the adjuster the right way and in your mind make certain that you are turning the way to loosen the shoes against the drum, make each move deliberate and try for a very small turn. The keep at it the adjuster can withstand the metal bar pushing it around.

You cannot afford to get mad at it, take a 5 lb club hammer and with a solid smack on the drum listen for the pressure to come off the drum. Make sure you turn the right way with the tool planted correctly and your movements firm and direct.

If after many attempts and nothing...take a break... find a curved piece and try capturing the adjustment assembly and pull the whole thing towards you away from the centre of the axel, then retry the tool.

If nothing works, you may have to bust open the drum as a last resort.

From experience I know what your going through that is why I don't want you mad at it.

As a recoil wrap I have used an old expansion spring to pull on the assembly, also look to see if you can spot the holder that keeps the spur wheel from turning, it is possible it is now bent making more work for you.

Good luck, be patient, are you doing this work on the floor or are you on a hoist?

[Chuck Tribolet]

That describes exactly what I spent six hours doing on Saturday, except for trying to pull the adjustment piece towards me and away from the center of the axle (which seems to be a contradiction, away from the center of the axle would be UP, but towards me
would be to the RIGHT of the truck).

Truck is up on a floor jack under the diff. I'll give it a try this afternoon if the weather holds. And I'm going to check with a local
brake shop with a good rep on the way home (I'm glad I have a second car).

Another thought would be to use a BIG wheel puller on the drum. Those two little sheet metal retainers (the ones you you turn a
quarter torun to hold the drum on) can't be all that strong.

Any thoughts on busting open the drum? I have a pneumatic cut-off tool, but that looks like hours to me

[Chuck Tribolet]

I had it towed to the brake shop this afternoon.

[ARKQX33V6]

Chuck if the drum has a ridge worn into it a wheel puller will just pull everything in there out.
Let us know what the shop did to get it apart.

[Chuck Tribolet]

The weakest link is the sheet metal retainers that hold the shoes to the backing plate. My theory is that the big puller would
pull these off.

The shop used a couple of big screwdrivers to pry it off.

$105 and that included turning both drums.

[ARKQX33V6]

Not a bad repair cost after all. I would say a lesson learned in direction of turning things. What we do at times is make matters worse, but we learn...and now we become the teacher. And no matter, we all get into a bit of a mess and must learn to crawl out of it.

Glad it is resolved!