I replaced shoes on my car. They needed drums too. The drums are old and rusted and don't want to come off. It was sugessted that I back off adjusting screw through one of the holes in the backing plate. What does it look like? Can I use a screw driver to do this? Can a TV mechanic like myself get it done? Its frustrating that the drums don't budge at all. A mechanic said that they were adjusted too tight. Please help and thank you in advance.
2007-12-24 10:24:09 · 3 answers · asked by Mike S 6 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Car Makes ➔ Chevrolet
ex GM tech...those cavaliers did not have adjustment holes on rear brakes..did you already put shoes on? lost here. if you're still just working on getting drums off to do the rear brakes,well here goes. try spraying some penetrating fluid around the edge of the hub coming through the drum,then(carefully) take a hammer and hit the front edge of the drum while turning it. you may hav to tap pretty hard-it breaks the corrosion loose and drum should slide off.brake shoes can be hard to change without the right tools.good luck...e-mail if you need help there..................doug
2007-12-24 11:31:50 · answer #1 · answered by hurchelfox 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There should be a rubber plug on your backing plate (the back side of your drums near the rear shocks). Sometimes you can get in there with a screw driver. If you replaced the shoes you'll remember a piece that had a wheel with a bunch of teeth on it at the bottom of the shoes. That's your adjuster. If it's a 2001 they are more than likelly frozen up. Take off your drums and make sure the adjusters move. If not either replace them or free them up usually using heat (a propane torch if you're doing them in the driveway).
2007-12-24 18:29:50 · answer #2 · answered by ryankneale 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Get under the car. Find a oval rubber pad. Remove it. Stick your screwdriver in it and find the teeth from the screw. No need for light you can feel find it. and start to rotate it up or down witch ever diretio you do do it for about 20 times. then check your tire. if it does not spin or spins harder than before then you went the wrong direction. an then do the opposite. now if is spins loosely then you should be spinning it the right way do it a couple of more times then with a hammer tap on the drum as you spin it. the drum will eventually come off.
2007-12-24 18:31:42 · answer #3 · answered by Jay S 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋