Ok, first of all I feel realy dumb even having to ask this but here goes. How do I release the star wheel to release the tension on my rear brakes? My Haynes manual says there should be a lever just above the starwheel that I simply push away and presto it should turn. I have been poking around in there for hours now and can find nothing to push to release the wheel. Do you guys have any ideas where the release lever is, or another way to remove this drum? I cannot believe that a set of brakes are giving me this much headache. In the last week I have rebuilt a motorcycle transmission and done an engine swap in my car(there are some advantages to getting laid off), but I can't seem to change a set of brakes. Please help, I need to get this taken care of before any of my friends find out. I'll never hear the end of it if they do. JUst a little background: '98 4x4 3.0 RABS. Also the drivers side drum is sticking really bad, and my brake and abs lights have come on. I figure I'll at least get the brakes working and then figure out whty the lights are on if they remain on after I find out why the brakes are sticking on in this drum. Thanks in advance

 

You have to reach in through the adjustment hole (which is or should be covered with a rubber plug) on the back of the brake plate with a slender screw driver (or other such tool) and hold the activating bar away from the star. With a second tool (brake adjusting spoon works well) you turn the star wheel. The reason for the slender tool is that there has to be room for two tools at the same time in that small hole. Remember that one side (don't ask me which) has backward threads. If you can move the star without holding the bar out of the way, you are probably turning it the wrong way. After you get the adjustment backed off, sometimes the drums still wont come off. That can be caused by a ridge of rust, or a groove worn by the brake shoes (or both) around the edge of brake drum and the brake shoes get stuck. It can be a real pain in the neck (I have a lower opinion of the pain) to get the drum off.

 

Thanks for the help Dan. Turns out that the adjuster bar has rotten away to almost nothing. I had to resort to more primative ways of removing the drum And I agree that the pain is a little lower than the neck. Thanks again for the input.

 

I just usually force the star wheel against the bar.. it'll usually bend the bar up a bit, but easy enough to bend it back in place.. and cheap enough to replace if need-be.