Brake Drum Removal

[seafox]

I have a 2001 PT Cruiser and I am trying to replace the rear brake shoes but can't get the drums off. The problem is that I can't loosen the shoes to get the drum to slide off. I have the standard brake adjusting tool (spoon) but the teeth on the adjuster are too fine for the tool to engage them. Also the rigid brake line is in the way so I can't get any leverage to trurn the adjuster even using a screwdriver. Is there a special tool for adjusting the shoes?

[crusierdad76]

Id try like a 8 pound hammer just kidding I guess a screwdriver wont get it either?

[luvmysxs]

i had the same problem on my 02, it's not the brake shoes holding the drum on but rust on the lug bolts. what i did was spray lots of rust remover on the lugs and then rotate the drum while prying with a crow bar and hitting the drum with a very large hammer, once the rust barrier was broken then the drum would slid on and off without any more problems

[crusierdad76]

the studs were rusted to the wheel??? wow that would really suck I was kinda kidding about the hammer but as you said rotate it and whack it don't hit the studs or your hand if it is stuck on the studs this will for sure free it if it is the breaks you are gonna have to collapse them some how

[seafox]

THE DRUM IS NOT STUCK OR RUSTED TO THE STUDS! The problem is as I have stated above, I can't get the shoe adjuster to turn and therefore the collapse the shoes so that the drum will slide off. The drum is hung up on the shoes. Any suggestions?

[CREWZIN]

seafox,

These people are only trying to help.

If the shoes were that tight to hold the drum on, you wouldn't have been able to move the car. I also think that if you rotate the drum by hitting it with a hammer it should break loose and you should be able to slowly bring the drum off. I've done it and seen it done hundreds of times.

Some rust remover on the studs so it can penetrate into the drum, as was said, will also help.

[nexium]

The drum may have a groove in it, from the shoes. Something as small as
.020 groove will have the shoes out too far to pass the non worn part of the drum. Hence, they will rotate, but not come off the studs.
Seafox, you may have rusted parts in there. Look thru the adjuster slot with a light, and use a second small tool to move the ratchet part of the adjuster off the starwheel. If''n you still can't rotate the starwheel, it's time for the wd40. Don't worry about soaking the shoes. You're gonna replace them anyways.

[2007]

Originally Posted by CREWZIN

If the shoes were that tight to hold the drum on, you wouldn't have been able to move the car. I also think that if you rotate the drum by hitting it with a hammer it should break loose and you should be able to slowly bring the drum off. I've done it and seen it done hundreds of times.

It's also possible that his drum is loose from the studs, but he can not pull it off because the shoes have a groove worn into drum. I've had to use a torch to cut drums off of older vehicles that could not be adjusted down to allow the drums to slide off.



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