Kenn,

  The brake shoes wear some of the drum away leaving a ridge on either
side of the shoe. The brake self adjusters will adjust the shoes to
keep them next to the drum. (i.e. in the valley between the 2 ridges.)
If this has happened, you will need to adjust the brake shoes so they
are farther away from the drum surface, so they can clear this ridge
when you remove the drum. Just hitting the drum with a hammer will just
bend things unless you get the brake shoe clear of the ridges in the drum.
There is an access hole to get to the adjustment from the inside of
the drum. It should have a rubber plug in the hole.

  As long as the wheel can turn freely, the shoes are not stuck to the
drum surface.

  I must have spent a hour trying to get my drums off until I realized
what had happened :)

Bob

> Date:    Wed, 6 May 1998 14:13:13 -0700
> From:    Kenn Draymon <Kenn_Draymon@BCTEL.COM>
> Subject: Rear Drum removal
>
> I'm having a heck of a time removing the brake drum from my '85
> GL.  Lug nuts off, drum bolts off, it's stuck tight to the hub.
> No amount of smacking with blunt objects or sacrificing of small
> farm animals budges it.
>
> Suggestions?