Rep Power: 0

97' Civic LX 1.6L 16V SOHC

Rear passenger drum doesn't spin freely when the tire is jacked up.
There was a squeaking sound coming from there and it was getting bad.
Jacked up the rear of the car, e-brake off. Drivers side spins freely, passenger side seems to be engaged.

I took the tire off and put two 8mm bolts in to separate the drum and it was very tough. I only went about a quarter inch. There seemed to be a lot of tension on the outer drum and it felt like it wanted to fly off. So i stopped and took a flash light and I could see the shoes engaged and holding the outer drum from moving or coming off.

Does anyone know how I should go about this?
I'm fairly competent when it comes to mechanics but Honda is new to me and so are drum brakes. My past cars were always disk.

Should i get a whole new drum assembly? I have new shoes for it but this seems worse than just shoes.

Any input is appreciated,

Thanks.

 
Rep Power: 0

Lots of views, no suggestions.
Anyone have anything?

 
Rep Power: 0

theres an access boot on the back (of the backing plate) near where the shock comes down into the control arm, take the rubber boot off and there is a little wheel in there, not sure which way to turn it, but that will bring the pads in hopefully enough. hope this helps

 
Rep Power: 0

thanks for the response.
I'll give that a try in the morning.

 
Rep Power: 208

^ yeah that is the adjustment wheel, that should work. After you get it off, check where everything mounts and make sure nothing is bent or rubbung up against the big plate that evereyhting mounts to. It could be that your piston ceased or a spring broke also. A good inspection should make it obvious.

Let us know how it goes!

 
Rep Power: 0

After you do get it off, replace not only the shoes, but get the hardware kit and replace all the springs and clips, and the wheel cylinder which is probably seized. You should be able to push the piston in the wheel cylinder back and forth (left and right) with very little pressure.

 
Rep Power: 253

Dont push it too much or you will get air in the line and have to then bleed the system.

 
Rep Power: 234

You pretty much can't take that stuff apart without having to bleed the brakes anyways.

 
Rep Power: 0

Exactly, your going to have to bleed the brakes, no biggie.

 
Rep Power: 208

When you do this...jack up both sides and take off the drums. Then do one side at a time so that you can use the other side as a reference to where each spring goes.