On Sun, 27 Jun 1999, Marshall Ruskin wrote:

> Today I attempted to get going on my rear brake shoe replacement - and I ran
> into questions regarding removing the drum. Can you briefly advise me on the
> following points?
>
> 1. There are two hex bolts on outer face of drum (in the same plane as wheel
> studs) - those come off?

Yes.

> 2. Rubber cap on inside of mounting plate (side opposite the drum) I assume
> that this hasta come off to somehow turn brake adjustment rachett - is that
> right?

Yes.

> 3. How do you adjust said rachett? ( I assume it has to be rotated to pull
> shoes away from drums - is that right?) - and in which direction does
> ratchett get turned to facilitate drum removal? Any tricks here?

These can be hard to get at because of their position.  I've used a
screwdriver that I bent (on purpose) to fit here, but there are brake
drum adjusting tools that might be better suited to the job.  I don't
remember which way to turn them to tighten/loosen but you should be able
to figure it out pretty quick either by trying it or looking at a
picture in a manual.

> 4. Other than the two bolts in point 2, and somehow loosening ratchet in
> point 3, is there anything else that needs to be done in order to remove
> drum?

It's very likely the drum is frozen to the hub with rust.  Tap on the
flat face of the drum, right at the perimeter.  A small (hand) sledge is
good here, and you may really have to whack it, but you can't really
damage the drum, so bang away.

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Tom Young               young@sherlock.SIMS.Berkeley.EDU
Lafayette, CA  94549    '81 Vanagon
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