I am replacing rear brakes and can't get one drum off, seems like brakes are hung up on it. HOW can I get the drum off???? Beating on it hasn't helped. Thanks for your help. By the way, its a 1999 Dodge Dakota if you need to know.
2006-10-01 07:28:30 · 3 answers · asked by James K 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Other - Cars & Transportation
The 2 other answers are correct about the little slot, however a couple of more notes:
First, many times the slot is covered up by a "knockout". This is a piece of metal which can be "punched out" with a chisel, punch, or hefty screwdriver.
Second, often the brake self adjuster prevents the "star wheel" of the brake adjuster from turning backwards: if you turn it the wrong way you will tighten the brakes even more, making it even harder to remove the drum!
Since you already have one drum off you can use it as an example to find the knockout, unless, of course, they already have a rubber plug in the backing plate. A bent screwdriver or stiff piece of wire can be put through the hole to hold the self adjuster back off of the star wheel. You can "practice" on the wheel you already have off.
NOTE: the star wheels turn in opposite directions on each wheel. See which direction you turn the adjuster on the wheel you already got off to loosen it. You will need to turn the adjuster on your "stuck" wheel tha OPPOSITE direction.
If for some reason the adjuster is "frozen" and you can't get it to turn, there are 2 pins that hold the shoes to the backing plate. The heads of these pins can be chiseled or broken off fairly easily from the back of the backing plate. Once they are released the shoes will slip sideways and you will be able to get the drum off. New hold down pins are readily available and cheap, even if you have to buy a complete brake hardware kit.
2006-10-01 08:00:02 · answer #1 · answered by econofix 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
On the other side of the drum there is slot take flashlight and see into there is this little wheel in there with notches in it sorta like gear well get flat screw driver and screw it which ever way that it loosens up basically you are adjusting the brakes when doing that.
2006-10-01 07:35:30 · answer #2 · answered by ozniwellman 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you have to back off the brake adjustment,if you have a look at the side you have got off you will see how it works.
2006-10-01 07:41:48 · answer #3 · answered by frank m 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋