1999 Chevrolet Suburban Drum Brake

JUST TO THROW OUT A DUMB EXAMPLE

YOUR DRUM MIGHT BE 2-1/4 INCHES WIDE

YOUR SHOES MAY BE 2 INCHES WIDE

OVER TIME AND BRAKING, THE 2 INCH SHOES WEAR A 2 INCH GULLY INTO THE DRUM

AS THE SHOES WEAR, THEY ADJUST OUTWARD

NOW THAT IT'S TIME TO REMOVE THE DRUM, THERE IS NOW A "CURB" (PER SAY) ON THE DRUM, THAT IS THE 1/4 INCH OF DRUM THAT THE SHOE NEVER CONTACTED

IN OTHER WORDS, THERE IS NOW A 1/4 INCH LIP, THAT DID DOT WEAR DOWN LIKE THE OTHER 2 INCHES. THE DRUM DOES NOT WANNA PULL OFF 'CAUSE THE BRAKE LINING IS HANGING ON THAT LIP

FIX?

ON THE BACKSIDE OF THE BRAKE BACKING, REMOVE THE DUST PLUG

HERE'S THE "HARDER PART"

YOU ARE GONNA HAVE TO INSERT A NAIL/ SCREWDRIVER/ ETC IN THE SLOT AND PUSH THE SELF ADJUSTER TAB OFF OF THE ADJUSTER WHEEL (THE TAB, PREVENTS THE WHEEL FROM BACKING OFF, ALSO PUSHES THE WHEEL IN THE ONE DIRECTION TO "SELF ADJUST")

WHILE HOLDING IT OFF THE WHEEL (WHICH IS NOW FREE) USE YOUR BRAKE SPOON IN THE REMAINING OPEN AREA TO "REVERSE" OR ROTATE THE ADJUSTER WHEEL "BACKWARDS" (PER SAY) TO "UN-ADJUST" THE SHOES' TENSION, BASICALLY REVERSE THE SELF ADJUSTING PROCESS!

ONCE THE SHOES BACK AWAY FROM THE DRUM, YOU OUGHTTA BE ABLE TO PULL THE DRUM OFF

KEEP US POSTED ON PROGRESS

THE MEDIC

ANOTHER POSSIBILITY IS THE SHOES MAY HAVE BEEN CHANGED (MAYBE MORE THAN ONCE) AND THE DRUMS WERE NOT TURNED

THIS "COULDA" RESULTED IN THE CENTER OF THE DRUM'S SHOE SURFACE SORTA BEING WORN MORE IN THE MIDDLE

WHEN THE NEW SHOES "MIGHTA" BEEN INSTALLED, THEY REALLY ONLY GRABBED ON EITHER SIDE OF THE MIDDLE, UNTIL THEY WORE IN (RATHER FORMED THE SAME SHAPE AS THE DRUM SURFACE)

THE SHOES WOULD THEN (FINALLY) HAVE FULL CONTACT WITH THE DRUM SURFACE, IT WOULD CONTINUE TO SELF ADJUST AS NORMAL

THE KICKER MIGHT BE THERE'S A "HUMP" IN THE SHOE LININGS, THAT WON'T SLIDE OUTTA THE VALLEY IN THE DRUM SURFACE

BACKING OFF OF THE ADJUSTER (ENOUGH) SHOULD GET IT TO SLIDE BY WHATEVER HAS GOT THE SHOES HUNG ON

ONCE YOU GET 'EM APART, A STRAIGHT EDGE MIGHT VERIFY THE HUMP THEORY ON THE LININGS OR IN THE DRUM

KEEP US POSTED

THE MEDIC

ONE MORE IDEA!

IF THESE ARE GLUED ON LININGS

MAYBE ONE OF THE LININGS COME UNGLUED

NOW IT'S WEDGED IN THE ASSEMBLY SOMEHOW

SEE THE PICS OF OUR SPARE CAR (DODGE NEON)

I JUMPED IN TO GO, AND IT WAS DRAGGING A TIRE

SEE MY LINING

THE MEDIC

I'M STICKING WITH THE "UN-WORN LIP THEORY" ON THE INBOARD PORTION OF THE DRUM!

ANY NEWS?

THE MEDIC