I am trying to figure out how to get the brake drums off of my 98 caravan can anyone help??

Question

detailed instructions if possible would be nice

Answer 1

Okay, to start with, remove the small rubber plug on the back of the brake assembly to access the brake adjuster. You will need to look inside with a flashlight, and you will see a small star wheel and a stamped metal lever holding the star wheel in place. The lever allows the start wheel to only turn in one direction, keeping your brakes adjusted. Use 2 small flathead screwdrivers, one to push the leve out of the way and one to turn the star wheel to take all the adjustment out of the brake shoes (bring them closer together). Once that is done, you can either hammer the **** out of the drum to get it loose, or you can apply heat to the front of the drum (around the wheel studs) to try and break it loose from the hub, and then hammer the **** out of it, only less so. One other piece of advice, take both drums off, but only do one set of shoes at a time, and use the side that you are not changing as a "roadmap" to get all the pins, springs, keepers, cables, levers, etc. back into the right places.

Answer 2

They get very stuck because of the brake shoes dust and dirt. It's even worse when the vehicle sits for a while.
Lift the rear of the vehicle and secure it with the jacks (use the frame to jack the car).
Take the wheel off. The only thing that was holding the drum is the set of lug nuts you just took off.
Hold the drum from both sides and jiggle it. It should slid out. If, like we said in the beginning, the drum is stuck, hit it from all sides with a hammer, and keep hitting it and jiggling it until it comes out.

Good luck!

Answer 3

After a while, brake drums can become seized or stuck. This is due to the heat and brake dust from using your brakes. Its natural, but in order to get them off, you may have to use a torch to heat up the drums surface, then use a hand held mallet, to beat on the outside of the drum all the way around. This should free it, but may take a while.

Answer 4

Sixfour is the only one who isn't trying to ruin your rear end. You probably have a small ridge on the inside of the drum from the shoes wearing the surface down. You need to back the adjustment off through the little access hole before you can get the drums off.

Answer 5

do not engage the emergency brake.
remove the tire, and beat the crap out of the brake drum until it breaks free. They don't come off easily. I use a 2lb hammer and tap the back rim in a star pattern until the drum breaks free.

Answer 6

john is right . you have to take the spindle nut off in order to get to the brakes. take the dust cap in the center off and remove the nut.make sure your e-brake is off and just pull the drum off the spindle .

Answer 7

if i'm not mistaken the hub and drum are a unit so the spindle nut and bearings need to be removed if that is your question