How do I remove the rear drum brakes on a Honda Civic...they're stuck?

I need to take a look and probably service the drum brakes on my 1989 Honda Civic. I have succesfully done brakes - both disc and drum- on other cars. The right rear drum came off fine but the left rear won't. Likely there is a a groove at the edge catching the pads and preventing removal. The solution (according to the manual and my experience) is to turn the star wheel to pull the pads in. This is nearly impossible it seems with the Honda drums. I simply can't do it. Is there a special tool or technique that I need to apply to accomplish this? I pulled the drum on the other side to practice what I need to do but it was difficult to do staring right at it. It's seems impossible when I can't see it on the left side. Thoughts? Advice? Side note: I don't have the money to have it professionally serviced so that is not a great solution for me.

Zach2007-04-01T18:36:34Z

Favorite Answer

On the star adjuster there is a star adjuster lever push it out with a screw driver and simply turn the adjuster wheel with either a brake tool are another screwdriver. I've done it that way on a Dakota before. If the adjuster wheel is stuck spray some penetrating oil on it or WD-40.

Good Luck.

yun2016-11-05T02:57:10Z

2001 Honda Civic Rear Brakes

Mr Teal 1372007-04-01T20:48:33Z

this might be stupid question but it something that I had to figure out, are you turning the screw the same direction on both side. If it's like the ford I have, the same screw is used on both sides so if you are looking out from under the car and you move the star wheel up on one side it is loosening the brakes while on the other its actually tightening them. So find out which way the one side goes that you got off and do the opposite on the other.
UP on the left DOWN one the right or
DOWN on left UP on the right.

Tweendasheetz2007-04-01T18:30:20Z

Ok, Spray some brake cleaner into the small gap in the rear of the drum, let it soak in. Take a rubber mallet or deadblow, smack the drum repeatedly around all sides. Then smack in from the front, eventually it will free up, and wala, it will come off.

Best of Luck!

Anonymous2016-03-18T10:28:01Z

some have clips on studs some have to used a screw to push the m off most al need to back off brake adjuster most wil have to pry and hit with a hammer type into search box how to remove rear brake drum how to replace rear brake shoes

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