doguapo Posted April 5, 2014 Share Posted April 5, 2014 Hello all, Newbie here on the forums and I apologize if this thread exists - please direct me to there if this is the case! I am trying to replace the rear wheel bearing, driver's side. I followed the tutorial of a similar job elsewhere on this forum, and have removed the suspension arm from the car including the spindle with the drum on it and everything inside of it. I can't get the drum off! I have tried many tactics - pounding, flame, penetrating fluid. I also tried to find a star bolt to turn with a flathead (via the backing plate through the plug) to compress the shoes because it seems like the shoes are holding the drum on at this point, but I can't find any indication of a star bolt - does this even exist on these models? Haynes manual shows nothing of this sort... I also think the drum may be seized on the spindle. I've read that using a puller will help...but I'm hoping to compress the shoes if possible just so I'm sure to not damage those as that would add work to an already painstaking job of even trying to access the bearing (also I don't own a puller and would rather not shell out the 80+ dollars to buy one). Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gloyale Posted April 5, 2014 Share Posted April 5, 2014 You need to unload the self adjuster. it's holding the brakes close to the drum.....and they are catching on the lip. Look on the back of the arm.....at the backing plate........close to the spindle, is a small rubber plug. Remove it...... Looking inside you should see the back of the adjuster.....it's got a Cam shaped lobe with fine ridging/teeth on it. Use a long skinny screwdriver to push the cam off the ridges/teeth........ It's akin to "backing off" the starwheel type adjusters of most drum brakes. It's just that these subies use a funky Cam based adjuster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
l75eya Posted April 5, 2014 Share Posted April 5, 2014 Above. It's hard to see in there, if you get a focused beam of light on it you'll see it. What you need to push on through that hole is towards the rear of the drum assembly. It's a 1/4" thick flat piece of metal about 2 inches long and rounded. All you need to do is push it toward the forward toward the drum and it releases the ratchet mechanism holding the shoes tight.I couldn't find it when I took my drums off either and I wound up just using a jaw set gear puller and pulling the drum off with that. Could have broken some springs doing it that way I'm sure, but it didn't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wagonist Posted April 6, 2014 Share Posted April 6, 2014 I'm sorry if this is a really stupid question, but you've taken the axle nut off, right? Newer cars don't need this done as the nut just holds the hub on, but these subes need it gone. Apart from that, sounds like the pads have worn a lip onto the edge of the drum & you need to back them off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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