LUVTruck.com

so i have this 84 toyota corolla and its time to change the breaks. I get one side of drums done then try to get the other off. Well the damn thing is not coming off. So i figure there was a lip on the drum from wear like the other side and the shoes are catching on it. SO i go to the back of the thing and try to adjust it but end up tightening the damn thing. So now its REALLY stuck. Anybody know how to back it off???? There is a little wheel with gears on it that u turn to adjust it and a plate clicks against one side of the teeth to hold it from turning back one way...anybody whos done drums would probably know what im talkign about. I desperately need to know how to loosen it up to get the drum off and change the breaks...the car is useless to me until i can get it off...i cant even put wheels back on it and take it to the shop its so stuck!

The brake adjuster, the star wheel, has a ratcheting clip on it. It willl go one way easily, and not want to go the other way at all. I had to pry on one with a flat head screwdriver till it moved. Then I just backed it off till I go the drum off. I usually replace the springs and everything when I do drum brakes.

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Hammer to fit, paint to match.
If it aint broke, don't fix it.
There's always room for duct tape and bailing wire.

WATCH YOUR PIEHOLE!!!!!!

ya..that star wheel is wut im talking about...u gotta pry REAL hard. Unfortunately im destroying the teeth im prying so hard...figured theres gotta be another way...

Actually, it isn't as difficult as it seems. With a thin blade screwdriver, go in through the adjusting slot next to the star wheel and push the ratchet clip toward the outside of the vehicle. This will let the star wheel turn freely with the your adjusting spoon (or other screwdriver). It is a two hand operation, but easy once you get the hang of it.

ya...i figured that much out and been tryin to get it but cant seem to push that thing out to get it to let the star wheel go...its SOOO tight that just pushing that thing off the star wheel is a job and a half...but thx for the input!!! nice to know im headed in the right direction...

if all else fails use a cutting torch sounds like your heading in the right direction. good luck!

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1980 chevy luv 4x4 1.8 liter
1979 luv long bed parts truck
1984 2wd isuzu pup parts truck

"A man who says it can't be done shouldn't interrupt a man doing it."

thx guys! I found two holes in the drum which had threads...turns out if you put bolts in them and tighten them evenly they push the drum off...even if its TIGHT....

What a pain. I know I hate Drum brakes. Love the disk cause I can see what is happening.

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More LUV than one man could ever need - Spread the LUV!
- 1976 Chevy Longbed - Daily Driver
- 1981 Chevy Shortbed 4X4 - Needs Help!
- 1981 Chevy Luv 4X4 - Newly put together

I bet one could drill holes in a LUV backplate, weld on some nuts, and build in the same thing to the stock LUV rear drum setup. Assuming you can find enough room in the plate somewhere the bolts could make it through to the outer part of the drum.

Sorry, just could not resist finding a way to relate this thread to LUVs somehow or another. I like seeing cool ideas like that on other rigs. I remember making fun of my brother's college roomie because his Dodge V8 had a sort of "parts/tool tray" cast into the intake manifold. I told him "Look, its made to be worked on!" but it would be nice to have a place other than the air cleaner to set parts and wrenches on under the LUV hood.

Speaking of which, on the LUV Drums, can't that be done near the hubs? I thought there was a little clearance there. Maybe I am thinking a different truck.

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More LUV than one man could ever need - Spread the LUV!
- 1976 Chevy Longbed - Daily Driver
- 1981 Chevy Shortbed 4X4 - Needs Help!
- 1981 Chevy Luv 4X4 - Newly put together