Drum brakes, simple or get 'em done professionally?

I did my drums for the first time ever a few months ago. I advise having a friend as a second set of eyes and hands.

A few things I learned:

It's easy if you do some reading and research first. My OEM drums and shoes were still looking good after 140k mi. Drums were about .01 in spec and the shoes had about 1/3 pad left. I replaced them anyway. Drums come off fine. A rubber mallet or dead blow will break them free and not blow out your ear drums or damage anything important if they get stuck. The bolt trick also works well as it's less effort and very easy. I used a set of spring pliers with hooked ends that helped a ton. If you use pliers use vice grips. Taking it all apart was easy, as was assembly, if you just go slow and be patient. My only issue was adjusting the shoes after. This is my tip.

When you have it all together cleaned and lubed, adjust the shoes so that the drum will barely go back on. Only put it on part way while test fitting it just in case. There is a knifes edge where it won't go on and where it will be loose. Note the direction the adjuster must go to tighten. Practice turning it a few times with a screw driver from the back of the backing plate with the drum off so you can see what you are doing and how it all works so you can visualize what you are doing with the drum on. There is a clip/tab that will click that you must push to loosen it if you need to. If you get it just so the drum turns and will barely rub the shoes you are close and only will need to tighten it one or two clicks. Volia you are done.

Adjust your parking cable if needed.

 

Seems like there's a lot of reports of 100+k miles on the drums. In miles, I have about 70k. Maybe all they need is an adjustment, and I definitely have to adjust my parking brake. Thanks for all the tips.

 

I have 205k miles, I have only cleaned and adjusted my rear brakes.

They are fine.