Can't get the drum back on - rear brakes - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

vert · 01-10-2011, 05:36 PM

2001 Corolla with 130K miles. Took the rear drum off, replaced the shoes as per Haynes manual, tried to put the drum back on and it will absolutely not fit. I turned the adjusting wheel all the way so that the shoes are as close together as it will go, still can't get the drum on. Please help - I am stuck!

bail_w · 01-10-2011, 05:45 PM

take a picture of the setup. maybe you did something wrong.

Bitter · 01-10-2011, 07:52 PM

shoes may not be centered, push them around a bit till the drum fits back on...or yes you may have not assembled correctly.

vert · 01-10-2011, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bitter

shoes may not be centered, push them around a bit till the drum fits back on...or yes you may have not assembled correctly.

Here is a picture... I compared to the other side and also to the book and I think everything is correct?

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo...eat=directlink

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo...eat=directlink

vert · 01-10-2011, 08:55 PM

I got the drum on but now it's impossible to turn since the shoes are so tight against the drum. And I managed to make it worse since I can not get the drum off now, even after pounding on it with some crow bar and a hammer. I used a rubber mallet to get it on, obviously I was not thinking what happens after i get it on there... ouch.

I did notice that the other side that with the old shoes, has the metal ears on left and right shoe go a little deeper into the hydrolic cylinder on top. The side that I was working on did not have it all the way in. I tried pushing the tops of the shoes into the cylinder a little more, but could not do it. I am not sure how to do this? Bleed the fluid a bit?

But i gotta figure out how to get the drum off now without braking anything... not a good day.

Bitter · 01-10-2011, 09:19 PM

apply and release the parking brake a few times to center the shoes and then see if the drum will turn.

bail_w · 01-10-2011, 09:34 PM

use two screws (forgot the size) on the drum then screw them in and force the drum off.

vert · 01-11-2011, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bail_w

use two screws (forgot the size) on the drum then screw them in and force the drum off.

EFFIN BRILLIANT... Seriously - THANK YOU. Two hours pounding on the drum last night without any success and about 5 minutes using your method. Also a tip for anybody else with the same problem - nice folks at Toyota provided you with a bolt that fits into the hole in the drum - you can find it holding down your spare tire in the trunk! I happened to have another bolt with the right thread in my tool box and with those two bolts it came off without any issues and without damaging anything inside.

Now back to the original problem. I took more detailed pictures of the setup. The only thing I can think of is that the "ears" on the left and right pad do not go deep enough into the brake fluid cylinder that you see in the first picture? If that's the problem - how can i get them to go in more?

If that's not the problem maybe you can spot something else that's wrong?

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo...eat=directlink

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo...eat=directlink

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo...eat=directlink

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo...eat=directlink

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo...eat=directlink

larrykiss · 01-11-2011, 06:42 PM

did you have drums turned, could it be ridge on drum.

vert · 01-11-2011, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by larrykiss

did you have drums turned, could it be ridge on drum.

No I did not have them turned... The drum goes back on easily with the old shoes but the new ones are thicker of course and they do not allow the drum to go on.

bail_w · 01-11-2011, 11:59 PM

seems like there is nothing wrong with the installation.

what i would do is to take the setup apart then redo it from scratch again.

Bitter · 01-12-2011, 07:24 AM

It looks like the adjuster is NOT sitting in the slot on the left shoe in the photo's. It needs to be in the slot, then push both shoes inward by hand.

Foxone · 01-12-2011, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bitter

It looks like the adjuster is NOT sitting in the slot on the left shoe in the photo's. It needs to be in the slot, then push both shoes inward by hand.

Looks that way to me also, that would definetly cause that problem.

vert · 01-12-2011, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bitter

It looks like the adjuster is NOT sitting in the slot on the left shoe in the photo's. It needs to be in the slot, then push both shoes inward by hand.

YES! That's exactly what the problem was. I did not see it until you pointed it out. The adjuster was catching and not all the way in. Took the screwdriver, pried it up and it snapped into place. Now there is a ton of room to put the drum back on. I have to set the adjuster correctly now since it is all the way in.

You guys rock! I've done plenty of disc brake/pad changes but this was a first time doing the drums. Live and learn... Thank you all!

Bitter · 01-12-2011, 08:23 PM

I hate drum brakes.