Hey guys, I tried using the search feature a few times and could not find any threads on DIY for changing rear drum on an 07 LS. If anyone could post me the link, or help me out it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

 

There's not a how-to on rear drums on here google it im sure most GM vehicles with rear drums are the same

 

you want to take the drums off and change the shoes?


why are you taking them off in the first place?

 

I changed mine a few months ago. Had some broken hardware in one of them. Sounded horrid. Anyway, ours aren't really that bad. You can pm me if you have questions. There is 1 or 2 springs, and one big... metal rod I guess shaped as a U that pretty much holds everything in place.
The only real pain in the ass is re-attaching the ebrake. I had to have someone separate the end of the ebrake line and the spring that is around it so I'd have enough room in between the spring and the end of the line to maneuver the plate attached to the shoe back around the line. Kind of hard to follow without pics, but if you haven't gotten to it yet I'm pretty sure I still have my old ones laying around I could take a pic or two.

 

hey thanks for your replies. I am going to try and do it today. OriginalAdrian, I am taking them off because they are worn out. I have serious grooving in my drums, and the shoes are at 1/32". They squeak when braking and i need my e brake at like 9 clicks before it holds the car in place. Im at 60,000 miles. GM has the worst brakes, I wish I had the brembo like the SS guys......

I already changed my front brakes at like 51,000.

 

Ok, So I changed the drum brakes, and the drum itself. When Putting the new drum on, I had a lot of difficulty getting it over the pads/shoes. It was so snug, once i barely got it over the pads, i then had to use a hammer like 30 or 40 hits to get it all the way home to the hub. Put the wheels back on, and tried to drive it. Well my brakes are now sticking. My E-brake is really tight, and its loose as a goose before the 1st click, like just sitting there i can pick it up with a pinky and it jiggles around, the second i put one click on though its rock solid.

My brakes are dragging pretty bad, and they smoked just from going down the drive way. I have the adjusters almost all the way down. They werent even pressing out on the shoes. They were just loosely hanging there, because it was the only way to get the drums on.

Anyone know how I can take care of this problem?

If you need any more info just ask. But i put the brakes back exactly they were before they came off, because i left one side in-tact.

 

Sounds like you didn't turn the adjuster right.

What are you doing to your brakes that your rears are done in 50k? My wifes car has 100k on the stock rear shoes(not a balt) I have 70k on mine and plenty left?
Where in pa are you? If your close enough maybe I can swing by and help out. (been working on cars for 5 years)

 

I live near Allentown PA. Thanks. How should the adjuster be in place? Is the adjuster the tuning fork looking thing that spins to get longer or shorter? If so, I have it in place with almost no tension because it was pushing the pads outwards, and the drum would not fit on.

My brakes are really grooved. I dont know why, or how. I drive normal, brake normal. Its just grooved to hell. Still have pad, it just doesn't work right so I changed them.

 

The star adjuster, it's the gear looking piece that turns, at the top of the hub needs to be turned all the way in. Once you put the drum on you turn it threw the opening in the back to set adjustment on the shoes. If that's all the way in the drum should slide right on.

 

Sounds like you should have had somebody who knew WTF they where doing work on your brakes.

 

ever figure this out man?

 

this is very old.. why is this bumped?, it's pretty simple to take of drums ect..

 

I am well capable of figuring elementary things out like this through a little trial and error thank you very much. I don't have time with school and a full time job to find someone to "help me with brakes" nor do i have the money to WASTE on a shop job.

Thanks to everyone for help. I got it on and working now.

The "star adjuster" has a little spring conected to a piece of metal which is almost like a lock on the cog of that adjuster. Is that piece necessary? and what does it do?

I had a problem because there was not enough tension for those pieces to stay connected to the star adjuster, so I had to adjust the star adjuster to have enough tension to hold those 2 items in place. Resulting in the pads being pushed out so much that I could not get the drum on. So then when adjusting for the drum to fit on, those pieces fell off, and were then tumbling inside the drum, causing all kinds of ****.

Long story short, I drilled holes in those pieces to compensate and now they have enough tension to hold in place, I have perfect drag, and everything is working great.

Thanks to everyone!

 

this keeps the star adjuster from twisted in reverse. Which it would do a little every time you hit the brakes. And after a bit your rear brakes wouldn't be at all effective because your star adjuster is all the way screwed in.

 

oh I see. Thanks! Where would I be able to get that little piece of metal that sits on the cog of the star adjuster? As well as the springs? In a regular drum brake kit? Because when the one fell off, it tumbled in the drum and got caught in the pad, and bent all to hell, so I make-shifted it and it works, but a new one would be preferred lol.