Adjusted drum brakes, now they're stuck - help!

[heyitsroth]

Adjusted the shoes on the n/s drum by turning the adjuster wheel through one of the wheel bolt holes. But I tightened it too much so the brake is stuck on, and for some reason I can't turn the adjuster back the other way!

I've tried to get the drum off, but it'll only budge a little and then gets stuck, which I guess is the lip catching on the shoes. I was thinking about getting a hub puller, but I'm guessing it would rip the shoes off

I'd be happy to take it to a garage, but I'd have to get it there first.. The wheel does move round when you drive, but the whole back goes down, like when you try to pull away without taking off the handbrake.  Would it be safe/do any damage to drive like that? 

So is there another way of accessing the adjuster wheel?  Or any ideas as to why it won't turn?


Got to move house next week, so any answers would be very much appreciated 

[welshpug]

slacken the cables

[Toms306]

Slackening cables won't make a difference if the auto adjuster is over tight.

The only access is through the bolt hole but due to the ratchet mechanism it is difficult to turn backwards.

It is not safe to leave like that, it'll rip the friction material off and lock the drum solid eventually (not fun!).

[welshpug]

depends if the cables are also too tight, rare are they adjustrd correctly.

[Piggy]

Yeah first...
Did you slacken off the cables?
If you did...
Get someone with strong legs to put foot on brake...
Then try winding them bavk

[heyitsroth]

Yeah first...
Did you slacken off the cables?
If you did...
Get someone with strong legs to put foot on brake...
Then try winding them bavk

Yeah cables are completely slackened - took the nut completely off the back of the handbrake.  And I did try having someone press the brake, but I'll try again and ask them to press harder

It is not safe to leave like that, it'll rip the friction material off and lock the drum solid eventually (not fun!).

Would it be safe to drive it just down the road to a garage though?  Assuming there's something they can do..


But if I can't turn the adjuster, is using a hub puller and probably ripping the shoes off in the process the only other option?

I did think about possibly unscrewing the shoes from the backplate through the wheel bolt holes, haven't looked to see if that's possible yet though - seems unlikely

Oh and this is a lucas drum if that makes any difference