Sorry for a another question so soon, but while I was checking my rear brakes the adjuster stripped and my shoes are frozen. Can I just pry off the hub, and replace all the brake hardware? Is there a way to get the hub off? Please help if you know a good way. I know I will break the springs and stuff but what other way is there? i have never seen anything like this before. The adjuster is gone.....I cannot loosen it at all. The brake s are tight, real tight.

 

You can pry the drum off. Depending upon how tight the shoes are it may come off fairly easily, or not.

The parking brake is off, right?

Good luck.

 

Ok but didn’t you just put new shoes on this thing?

You may try putting some heat on the drum and see if it comes loose for you not too much now the heat will expand the drum somewhat and maybe allow you to get it off.

But if you need to pry it open its doable but could make things worse

I don’t see how you could of stripped the adjuster?

Is it so bad you cant drive it?

 

I was just adjusting them and the adjuster went farther than I thought. When i tried to back them off. The adjuster star thing is just gone. Broke off but the threader adjuster is still there. And yes they are tight. That is when I took it for a drive, and also found that I have a transmission line busted. Freak deal. All at once. I had a clicking noise under the truck, Went to pull rear hubs off and check for any rust deposits or maybe a spring came loose. Now this. The truck only has 86k miles. Great truck. This is the first problems I have had with it. The line that busted is coming from a black box under the floor, has a wire harness and 2 lines coming out. 1 of those is throwing fluid.

 

If you can actually drive it do so for a week then I bet it will come off a little easier for you just as long as it’s not getting red hot on you do lots of small trips that will wear the shoes down a small amount but if you feel the truck always veering to one side then it’s too dangerous to drive

 

Im going to try again to knock out the adjuster from the hole. if that fails I will shear the pins from the back plate to allow the shoes to come off the plate. that should get the hub off.....

 

Its off. I used a large puller. Came off easy. Broke the holding springs and yes that adjuster was stripped. The star ring came off the shaft part. Autzone had all I needed in a bag for $7.99.

 

Daksat

Do you have a repair book for the Dakota? If not get one and read it working on your brakes is something done with knowledge not guessing

Just saying be safe

 

No I dont have a book. That is why I asked here. Forums are helpful. That is why I come to these. And might add something as well.
I always work on my own stuff. After owning 50 cars in the last 28 years.
There is no better way than to ask the people who own and work on their own stuff.
I quess drum brakes....well I wish the RT didnt have them!