Lets talk brakes

I've never owned a car with drum brakes before and when i went to inspect mine i couldn't get the drum off. I removed a bolt from the skid plate but it wouldn't thread into the holes in the drum. I banged the hell out of it with a hammer but it still wont budge. Any tricks to this?
Also, once inside, what parts should i ne prepared to replace. I have 130k, is this the kind of thing where i should just replace the whole drum?

To the fronts....

I think i need new rotors, which brand is OEM quality? Brembo?

 

Deadblow hammer worked to get mine loose. Emery cloth and grease to the mating surface if you don't want it to rust back together for next time. See what it looks like once you get it apart before deciding on what to replace. Drums can last a long time, especially if the parking brake hasn't been used regularly to keep them adjusted.

 

Parking brake is off right?

 

Yup. Parking brake off and in neutral. I was starting to try and pry the plate off with a pry bar but didn't want to overdo that

 

Star adjuster through the rear of the drums. Back the pads off the drum and they should come loose if not then get a couple proper sized bolts and slowly and evenly pull the drum off. Drum brakes are rather straightforward, they just look complicated.

 

Are the shoes the only things that need replacing as regular maintenance? Can the drum wear out as well if the shoes are too worn? How about the retention springs

 

Usually you’d replace the springs along with the shoes. To do it right, you should have the drum turned but if it’s out of spec you may have to buy a new one. Being that deep into it I’d closely inspect the wheel cylinders as this would be the time to replace them if they are showing any signs of weeping. As far as removal of the drum thread bolts evenly into the drum and apply even firm tension. Give the drum a few good whacks with dead blow, re- tighten the bolts and repeat until it comes off.
Also if shoe replacement is needed do only 1 side at a time so you have reference how to reassemble.

 

Thanks. Once i get the damn drum off ill know more of what im dealing with. Does wear on the shoes & drums appear the same as disc brakes pads and rotors?

 

Soak the hub with some kind of penetrating oil then use a deadblow. Usually when they get stuck it’s either the drum is stuck to the hub or the shoes have made a groove in the drum and are acting as a stop.

 

If it's gotten to that point, does that mean the drums need replacing because off too much wear from the shoe?

 

Those little threads in the drum are 8 x 1.25mm

 

Maybe, maybe not. They have to be measured to see if they are out of spec. Might be able to get away with machining or might have to buy new drums. Price a set of drums and compare that with getting them machined.