Rear Brake Shoes: Removal
- Release parking brake. Raise and support vehicle. Mark wheels in relation to wheel studs. Remove wheels. Mark drums in relation to wheel studs. Remove drums. If drums are easily removed, go to step 4). If drums are difficult to remove, go to next step.
- Back off parking brake cable adjustment. Remove access hole plug from backing plate. Insert screwdriver through hole and push parking brake lever off of its stop. Brake shoes should contract slightly. If drum can be removed, go to step 4). If drum can not be removed, go to next step. Insert rubber plug into access hole to prevent contamination.
- If drum appears to be "frozen" on hub, apply a small amount of penetrating oil around pilot hole at center of drum, to break corrosion seal between drum and wheel stud flange. Remove drums.
- Disconnect actuator spring from adjuster actuator and web of parking brake shoe. Disconnect retractor spring from adjuster shoe, so end of spring snaps off of shoe web onto backing plate.
- Remove adjuster shoe, adjuster actuator and adjusting screw assembly. Disconnect parking brake lever from parking brake shoe. DO NOT disconnect parking brake cable from lever, unless replacing lever.
- Disconnect retractor spring from parking brake shoe, so end of spring snaps off of shoe web onto backing plate. Remove parking brake shoe. Remove retractor spring, if replacing. See Fig 1
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Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.