anyone have any experience on removing the rear drum on a 1997 Express 2500 <NOBR style="COLOR: darkgreen; FONT-SIZE: 100%; FONT-WEIGHT: normal" id=itxt_nobr_4_0>van</NOBR>?
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You will have to go to the back side of the backing plate and remove the plug. Then you need to stick a screwdriver in the back of it and turn the adjuster to pull the brake shoes back enough to pull the drum over them. If it is still locked on there after you adjust the shoes all the way in you will then need to smack the drum around the axle with a good sized hammer. I usually put the lugs back on so I don't mess the threads up when I start wacking the drum.
Good luck with a 97 I hope you are somewhere with little rust!