I can't get the passenger side rear brake drum off. It wiggles a little but won't come off.

Any ideas? Thanks.

 

I have had this happen to me before. Two ways you can go. Firstly the drum will come off if you tap around the back with a hammer. Be patient, and work the drum. It will come off. The other way is to use a puller made for this purpose. Good luck with your project.

 

Usually when this happens to me, it's because left the parking brake on, but I'm sure you checked that already.

 

1. parking brake may be partially locked on from armored cable corroding, usually occurs within 1st 2 ft of axle end, soak 1-2 days with penetrating oil, PB is good
2. adjuster broken or frozen, spray thru the adjusting hole with PB and let set overnight
3. part of shoe friction or spring/mechanism broken off and jammed between brakes and drum, puller or break drum

 

Where is the adjusting hole? The only hole on the rear is at the bottom and had a little rubber plug in it. I could barely fit the tip of my little finger in there and couldn't feel anything. No other holes on the back.

Thanks.

 

That's it. They make an adjusting tool but a flat screwdriver will work.

 

That's it. Usually a high-mileage vehicle with drum brakes has a problem with the drum coming off. Since it appears that the drum is not stuck to the axle, (You said it wiggles) it sounds like you have to adjust the brake adjustment looser. Get an ice pick through the hole to push the adjustment lever away form the star adjuster and then back off on the star. Hard to describe, but as you look at it from the back side, hopefully you can see what I mean. And make sure you have your vehicle up on steady jack stands. We'd hate to lose a poster because the jack slipped.....

 

I just went out to my van and had a look with a flashlight. If you pull that narrow rubber plug out on the bottom and look in there with a light you can see the adjuster.

 

take digi cam pictures of brake parts after you get the drum off....there is a front and back shoe....they are different....lay parts out in logical sequence and relationship on plywood or newspaper on ground next to you as you take them off...makes it much easier to get them back on correctly

 

Here's a pic of the adjuster. Link
Check out figure 3

 

I have found that striking the outside of the drum a few times in different places around the drum helps loosen the drum as well.

 

That worked. I used that diagram and was able to easily retract the shoes and remove the drum.

Thanks!

 

Good to hear you got the drum off !

 

I just used a little heat on mine. Got the torch out and heated up a little around the center. At the right temp you will hear some cracking and poping as the drum expands and breaks the rust free and it comes right off. No hammer at all. Just make sure you heat evenly and slowly.