Rear Drum Issues

[Will_615]

Hey guys, brand new here and I have ran into an issue with my 73 Charger. I'm trying to get the drums off my rear brakes and having one hell of a time. The manual says that to get the drums off, I have to access access the self adjust area, pull the adjusting lever away from the threads and then unlock the brakes with a specific tool. I am far from a mechanic, but this does not make sense to me, and I've never seen this in depth a process just to get a drum off.

Any feedback would be much appreciated. I attached a screenshot from the manual for reference in case there's something I'm missing.

And yes, I have whacked the holy piss out of them with a hammer, half of that from anger.

 

[pnora]

First off are the drums free from the axle? If so and they wont come off there is a groove keeping them from sliding over the shoes. If this is the case you need an adjusting tool/spoon and a small screwdriver. You will use the small screwdriver or what ever you can get to work to push the self adjuster lever away from the adjuster screw. Then with the brake adjuster tool you will have to back off the adjuster.

 

[WileE]

Welcome to the site. What he ^^ said. You need to retract the shoes back enough to pull the drums off.

 

[GTXDAN]

What they are telling you is to back the brake adjuster off so the shoes don't catch on the drum and keep it from coming off. If you have something thin to reach in and push the adjusting lever away from the adjuster and push a screw driver in against the adjuster and turn it up and it will loosen the brake shoes and most likely let the drum come off. It might be that the adjuster is locked up if it has not been turned in a while. Spray some penetrating oil through the whole onto the adjuster to help loosen it up.

 

[GTXDAN]

Brake adjusting tool

 

[oldbee]

While putting in a small screwdriver, try to aim a little above the adjuster, if all you feel is air, move a little sideways. When you hit adjuster lever(not the wheel) you’ll feel a little pushback from the spring on the lever. Just push it about 1/4” or so and turn adjuster wheel with the other tool. It’s easier than the explanation. Look closely at pictures of the setup.

 

[oldbee]

Addendum, if lever is below adjuster wheel, small screwdriver goes below adjuster. Sorry, I keep thinking older stuff where lever was above.

 

[69 Sleeper Bee]

^^^ Everyone above.
YouTube has a bunch of videos on this procedure

 

[R/T Boy 67]

As mentioned above, if the drums are solid and not springy, then they are probably rusted to the axle. A few taps on the face and some heat often works.

 

[Will_615]

That makes sense. The adjuster wheel does spin, so that might be the ticket.

What they are telling you is to back the brake adjuster off so the shoes don't catch on the drum and keep it from coming off. If you have something thin to reach in and push the adjusting lever away from the adjuster and push a screw driver in against the adjuster and turn it up and it will loosen the brake shoes and most likely let the drum come off. It might be that the adjuster is locked up if it has not been turned in a while. Spray some penetrating oil through the whole onto the adjuster to help loosen it up.

View attachment 1843295

 

[Will_615]

Thanks everyone, this drove me up a wall for a few hours yesterday trying to see inside that access hole. I'll let yall know how it turns out?