What is the easiest way to take the cover off the drum so i can change the brake shoes..thx

 

Take rims off, Cut the speed nut that's on one of the lugs, hit with a hammer on the face between the lugs and pull or pry off

 

hammer and long screwdriver

 

Ok cool thx for the info this is going to be my first attempt

 

And make sure you don't have the park brake on

Don't laugh, I've seen it done!

 

Haha ok thanks all info and advice is welcomed..this is my first attempt

 

Should be pretty easy with a few hammer wacks.

 

Don't have the drums on my cobalt but on most that I've worked on have the adjustment wheel which is accessed from behind,
Look at the back of the brake assembly and at the bottom of the splash guard there are usually to rubber grommets( oval in shape)pull them out and the adjustment wheel is behind one of them.
You will have to figure out which way to turn it to get clearance(this moves the pads away from the drum) for removing the drum
This is necessary if the drums are well worn otherwise the pads will come off with the drum .

And a FYI there is a leading pad generally shorter one by a little bit and it goes on the side facing the front?

 

^^^ Good point on the adjuster, you can get a pretty good lip on the inside edge of the drum and it will hang up on the shoes. Just don't forget to readjust once everything is back together, too much clearance and you could push the brake piston right out of the cylinder - big mess and the opportunity to take everything apart again

Pretty sure your right on the shorter shoe going towards the front but it's been a long time since I did a set of drum brakes.......

 

I had to take a torch to mine to get it off. it seized on

 

Oh wow ok haha I'm to need to print this thread out and have next to me when I do this haha...

 

i think i might write a how-to on this lol

usually the brakes dont need re-adjusting unless you're installing new shoes. make sure you spray off the old brake dust on the inside before re-assembling, this will get rid of the squeak that sometimes happens on new drums. our drums are very easy compared to most.

an easy way to do it is to lift both rear wheels and set them on jack stands. remove both wheels and drums. then you will be able to take one apart and still be able to look at the other one to remember how it all goes back together. a lot of times, when you take off one shoe the whole assembly inside will fall on the floor in front of you, so use the other side that you havent taken apart yet as a reference.

 

Always hated when that happens,when I first did drum brakes I would take a picture of the assembly for reference to get it back together right.