hi. i have a 2002 express 3500, 13 inch rear drums, single wheel. need to check brakes. i am having a very hard time in getting off the drums. tried prying with screwdrivers, crow bars, made a puller with chain and jack. nothing is helping. i had them off once before and did not have this much trouble. anyone have trouble with theirs? i am guessing there is a ridge in the edge of the drum hanging up on the shoe preventing me from pulling it off. read i could grind off the shoe retaining pin from the back side and everything should release and fall off. wanted to get other opinions before i go that route. thanks.

 

It's been a while since I worked on drum brakes but they typically have a rubber plug covering a slot that you use to tighten the self adjuster. The drum will then come off.

They can also get stuck on the hub. A little penetrating spray, outward force and hammer taps will break it free of the hub.

 

yup use the adjuster

 

If you have a slotted thick plate of steel ( i used a piece from a tire changer) you can use two bolts and pull the drum off as you tighten them up. Worked really well for me!

 

Release the parking brake! Caught my son doing this once.

What? It could happen.

 

Yup, release parking brake, fiddle with adjuster, if shoes are stuck against drum still, mallet on flat of drum.