Need to redo the rear (drum) brakes on my sons 99 Ram 1500. Although it will shift a bit from side to side and I can pull it toward me about 1/2 inch, it springs back, i.e. the drum won't come off the hub. It's apparently being held on by the pads or the rivets, and I need to retract them. Manual says to remove the plug in the backing plate and free the adjustment lever, but there is no plug. Any other way to remove it or reach the adjustment lever? Really could use some help and advice.

Thanks
Griff

 

Strike the drum "gently" with the biggest hammer you can find squarly on the face, it should "pop" off. If not, you can cut the two pins on the backside that hold the shoes to the backing plate, then you have to buy new hardware.

 

You can open the bleeder screw and then move the drum back and foth that has worked for my in the past.