Hello,

Trying to get the drums off a 2005 gmc 1/2 ton to paint drums. Manual said if it didn't come off to remove the plug behind the drum and turn the adjusting screw upward. I've turned and turned the screw upward and the brake shoes don't seem to be contracting at all. Drum still tight. I've give it couple good bangs but it's not coming loose.

If I can't get them off, do I need to rescrew the adjusting screw back to where it was? Or if I don't when I use the brakes will it just adjust?

I want to get the drums off, but have never had this problem. Truck has 40K miles and drums have never been off.

Thanks in advance,
Corey

 

hey man welcome to the forum! the slack adjuster shouldnt need to be adjusted in too far unless the drums are realy worn on the inside, there shouldnt be enough of a lip in the drum for the shoes to hang up on. i say get a bigger hammer, and beat on em from all angles. i have seen some so bound up from tight clearances and rust in between that only a bigger hammer would cure. me and a buddy beat on a set for about half an hour with a sledge before we saw movement.

 

Thanks. I put some penetrating oil on the center of the hub. I guess I'll let that sit for a while and try it later.

Thanks,
Corey

 

Grab the drum and wiggle it side to side while starting to pull it off, clockwise and counter clockwise, this helps sometimes too. You tried going upward with the star adjuster and nothing happened, did you try going downward at all? It has been a while, I forget which direction backs the shoes off of the drum......

 

bfh

 

Got the drum off. Took about 2 minutes. The two screw holes on the drum. Stuck screws in there, tightened and popped off. It only took 3 hours to figure it out.
Thanks,
Corey

 

oh crap i forgot the new drums had that, kind of a built in puller.... lol oh well at least you got it figured out