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Drum brake star wheel adjuster direction

Tiny
NORM10
  • MEMBER
  • 1999 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN
  • 7.4L
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 210,000 MILES
The passenger side rear drum brake on my K2500 (454 big block engine) is seized (13" drums). Viewed from the side of the backing plate, which way do I turn the star adjuster to loosen the shoes from the drum? Should the adjusting wheel for the passenger side drum be moved up or down to loosen the brake, again as viewed from the side of the backing plate? Would the direction one turns the star adjuster to loosen the brake be the same on the drivers side as on the passenger side? If the adjuster will not rotate (it is rusted), what are the options for removing the drum? Thank you, in advance, for your guidance.
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Thursday, December 15th, 2016 AT 5:17 AM

7 Replies

Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
See picture, double arrow shows adjuster and single arrow shows which way wheel has to turn which if you have a brake tool would be moving it down and it will get resistance if adjuster is not moved out of way. Also if you try to move the adjuster the wrong way it wont go because the adjuster arm stops it. this video should help

https://youtu.be/-Ts8SRUxRc8

Check out the diagrams (Below). Please let us know if you need anything else to get the problem fixed.
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Monday, March 15th, 2021 AT 11:52 AM
Tiny
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Thank you for the reply, HMAC300. Would you please confirm that the down arrow in the picture you provided is from the perspective that the star adjuster would be moved downward using the slot on the outside of the backing plate? In other words, from the perspective where one is looking at the backing plate toward the adjuster and not looking at the adjuster toward the backing plate. Thank you again.
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Monday, March 15th, 2021 AT 11:52 AM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
If you are looking at the backing plate hole and stick a brake adjusting tool in it you would have to go downward.
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Monday, March 15th, 2021 AT 11:52 AM
Tiny
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Thanks again. Is it the same for the driver-side drum brake too? One would move the star adjuster wheel downward to loosen the shoes from the drum. Thanks in advance.
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Monday, March 15th, 2021 AT 11:52 AM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
It should be other wise you will tighten them
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Monday, March 15th, 2021 AT 11:52 AM
Tiny
NORM10
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
I can't seem to locate the lever to allow the star adjuster on the driver-side rear drum brake to rotate downward so that I can loosen the shoes from the drum. Any ideas? I can pull out the drum a short distance (about a half an inch) but the shoes are caught on a lip at the edge of the drum. I have tried using a pry bar to pull off the drum but have had little to no success with this approach. Thank you.
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Monday, March 15th, 2021 AT 11:52 AM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Try hitting lever through bottom or top of hole for adjuster access
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Monday, March 15th, 2021 AT 11:52 AM

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