[rayzooker]

G'day all you knowledgable folks on the forum,

I'm getting my Vitara ready to reregister and I'm trying to check the back brake drums and shoes. My problem is that I can't get the one drum off.

I've read about releasing the brakes and the manual I've got (useless Haynes one that covers the good ol' US of A and the UK but pretty much no good for OZ???) doesn't help much at all. In the section on brakes, it shows a picture of a tab to grab hold of with pliers and pull about a quarter inch, I can't see anything that looks like it at all. There is a small round, flat thing that lines up with the pin they mention but there's no way to grab it with anything.

I've tried looking on this forum, I've tried googling it but I get just about everything but what I need to help, which only adds to my frustration. There are no holes or slots to poke screwdrivers into or any way of getting to the inside without pulling the drum off.

Is there an adjustment on the handbrake lever that I need to do to release it?? Any help would be much appreciated, thanks, I can post photos if that will help, cheers,

Ray

[tanshi]

jack up and put on axle stands
remove the 4 bolts that hold it to the end of the axle.
release hand brake
put wheel on wheel studs and put two or three whel nuts on a few turns.
wiggle wheel side to side which should loosen the brake drum.

[rayzooker]

Hey thanks tanshi, makes sense, I'll give it a try when I'm able to get at it again.

Hopefully, I won't have to post another question but will let you know how it goes.

Cheers.

[Abraxix]

http://www.wonderbart.com/images/08/aug/rear_brake_job_step1.jpg

otherwise i've done this something similar.. the two shiny bolt heads there should be holes you can put bolts into you do them up "evenly" and this forces the drum off !!!

[rayzooker]

Thanks Abraxix, but mine is different to that, it has the 5 wheel studs then 4 studs to hold the wheel/drum assembly to the axle. There are no holes anywhere to put anything, but thanks again for your interest and input. Cheers, Ray

[neofitou]

A slide hammer also is very useful.

If you have one, like I do.

I've also used the slide hammer flange with the jack out rod in it

This way your not pulling on the axel and bearing but pushing them apart.

Not sure on the vit, but some drum brakes have an access hole in the back you can stick a screw driver in and release the auto adjuster so they come off easy.
When I took my NT 1.3 to the mechanic for the roadworthy, he had to ask me how to get the brake drums off (they have the slot in the back).. He doesn't see any drums any more on the cars he is working on normally.

[rayzooker]

G'day, back again, sorry to be so long, been a bit busy. I've managed to release the brakes, easy when you know how.

And, thanks to tanshi, I now know how...

Hopefully, it won't be too long before I can have it back on the road?!?!?

Thanks again,

Ray