Cant get the brake drum off. Is there an adjuster release screw?

[nobb]

Ive got a 2002 Protege LX and I cant seem to get the drum off from the driver's side rear wheel. The passenger side drum comes off no problem. I've tried whacking it with a hammer, spraying it with WD40, nothing seems to work.

I cant find anywhere to rent/borrow a drum puller. Im wondering perhaps if it is stuck on the brake shoe and whether there is a screw I can turn to loosen up the adjuster?

Suggestions would be GREAT.

 

[Joost27]

look on the face of the drum, should be a small threaded hole. Find a bolt that screws into that, it will screw past the drum and then to the hub, make sure its of decent length. By screwing it, it should start to move the drum out off the shoes. As I am sure you did already, make sure that the two Phillips screws are out too.

Hole is between the two bottom studs:

 

[nobb]

Yup, I did notice that screw but havent been able to find a suitable screw. Does anyone know the thread specs (pattern, spacing) so that I can try to see if a hardware store has any?

Also, does anyone know if there is some sort of adjuster release screw in the back of the drum brake assembly? I havent been able to find such a thing.

 

[Joost27]

Dont believe there is an adjustment, i believe tension is done when you backup or something like that. The Bolt specs are M8x1.25 I believe I suggest a bolt so u can use a ratchet and and get leverage once it is pressing up against the hub, it will be very hard to turn a screw.

 

[MaxPower]

By any chance, did you try spraying WD-40 in that hole?

 

[nobb]

Yea WD40 was the first thing I tried. Ill go to Rona later to try to find that bolt size and see how that works out.

 

[ghostbusters]

ur probably not hammering it properly, hit it near the bottom of the drum, u need to hit it so that it forces the top to pop out.

 

[nobb]

YES!!!! M8 screw works. Thanks ALOT for the tip. 5 mins with the M8 screw >>> 2 hrs trying to WD40 + hammering the heck out of the drum.