Rear brake help

[60Man]

One of my rear brakes have locked up. It is a 100 percent stock setup. I have been able to rule .out the emergency brake. I have removed both sides and one will turn freely and the other is locked up. The front brakes work as they should. Because it is locked up I can't get the drum off to further inspect. The truck is a southern rust free survivor. Looking for help?? Thanks

 

[gt7058a]

There is an opening on the back of the wheel where you can access the adjuster. You may have a rubber cap in yours if it’s in good shape. You can poke a screwdriver in there and press it against the star wheel to move it up/down to change tension on the shoes. I don’t recall loosening direction for loosening

 

[60Man]

There is an opening on the back of the wheel where you can access the adjuster. You may have a rubber cap in yours if it’s in good shape. You can poke a screwdriver in there and press it against the star wheel to move it up/down to change tension on the shoes. I don’t recall loosening direction for loosening

I'll give that a try. I know the rubber cap you are referring to and the star wheel. Thank you

 

[Skniper]

I'll give that a try. I know the rubber cap you are referring to and the star wheel. Thank you

I just went through this, I had hell getting the drum off. You’ll want to rotate the star wheel downward to loosen, while pushing the inner plate away from the star.

 

[Hokierig]

You should also be able to thread a bolt into the drum housing to help back it off the stuck shoes.

 

[Skniper]

Good point, use two bolts to evenly push the drum off. Can’t remember the size but it’s a very common metric size/pitch.

Used the two bolts on mine and the drum was making progress but still tight and binding up. I couldn’t get the friggin star wheel to loosen. Finally got the drum off but destroyed some of the little brake shoe retainer pins and clips. …and bent the shoe retainer tabs on the backing plate. I was unhappy with me.
Fortunately had a couple drum hardware rebuild kits on hand.
Careful how much forceful persuasion you use.

 

[60Man]

Good point, use two bolts to evenly push the drum off. Can’t remember the size but it’s a very common metric size/pitch.

Used the two bolts on mine and the drum was making progress but still tight and binding up. I couldn’t get the friggin star wheel to loosen. Finally got the drum off but destroyed some of the little brake shoe retainer pins and clips. …and bent the shoe retainer tabs on the backing plate. I was unhappy with me.
Fortunately had a couple drum hardware rebuild kits on hand.
Careful how much forceful persuasion you use.

So I have used some of the techniques you all are recommending. I'm sure I.will be able to get the drum off combining all of them, however any thoughts on why the brake is locked up, is it a bad cylinder?

 

[toy_tek]

Could be the brake hardware all corroded not allowing it to release. Or a cylinder.

 

[Skniper]

So I have used some of the techniques you all are recommending. I'm sure I.will be able to get the drum off combining all of them, however any thoughts on why the brake is locked up, is it a bad cylinder?

I’m not in a rust prone area but inside my drum was really grimy and things weren’t moving well, not the normal dusty dirty brake innards.

The wheel cylinder appeared to have been leaking and just grimed everything up.
I thought the parking brake was sticking but not the case, it got cleaned and greased anyway.
I failed to get the star wheel loosened so removing the drum was a bear and I broke sh!t.

Dumb question, did you remove the retainer screw on the drum?

 

[Mace]

You have to remove the retainer screw to get the drum off. I leave it off..

 

[klip]

So I have used some of the techniques you all are recommending. I'm sure I.will be able to get the drum off combining all of them, however any thoughts on why the brake is locked up, is it a bad cylinder?

Was it parked for a long time with the parking brake on?

 

[Spike Strip]

Try a RUBBER Dead Blow hammer with solid whacks at 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock. RUBBER. RuBbEr.

Sometimes that will free up whatever is frozen enough to pull off the drum.

 

[WILLD420]

If the star wheel is frozen, you will have to "massage" it with a hammer if you can't get it broke free. Last resort is to cut the drum in half to get it off. While you're working on it, you can spray penetrating oil on the adjuster on each end and keep working it back and forth till it breaks free. It may take you a long time, just be patient and try not to strip the teeth off the wheel. Once you do that, you'll have to bend it in the center till it releases pressure on the drum or cut the drum off. Copper nev-r-seize works good on them once you get them apart and clean them all up, to keep this from happening again.

 

[60Man]

I’m not in a rust prone area but inside my drum was really grimy and things weren’t moving well, not the normal dusty dirty brake innards.

The wheel cylinder appeared to have been leaking and just grimed everything up.
I thought the parking brake was sticking but not the case, it got cleaned and greased anyway.
I failed to get the star wheel loosened so removing the drum was a bear and I broke sh!t.

Dumb question, did you remove the retainer screw on the drum?

Yes. I did remove the screw. I think it will come down to just hammering away. I don't have any rust. I don't see any brake fluid, however that thing is stuck. Thank you for the comment. I'll be ripping into this Sunday.