89 Mazda Drum brakes...AAAUUUGGGHHHH!!! (to borrow from Charlie Brown...)

Crossing due to the number of knowledgable people spread across these
groups...

Tried to do the brake shoes on my 89 Mazda 626 today...no go. Couldn't get
the drum off (spent about 2 hours on one drum...)

No hole to insert a bolt, no hole to adjust the adjuster; manual said
"Insert screwdriver in hole and push spring retainer to release shoes."
Absolutely fantastic, except there WAS NO HOLE! I even took the spindle
nut off since the pics showed no spindle nut...un-uh. Nada. No pulling,
pounding or prying would get the drum off.

I finally got fed up and put the whole mess back together...

Any hints?

 

If my memory serves me right, the whole drum/hub comes off after removing
the 17mm (or 19mm) nut, washer, & outer bearing. I do believe there's a
hole in the backing plate, just off center, on the upper middle, just above
the spindle mount. There should be a rubber plug covering the hole. The
plug is rather flat and easily missed. I used to use a 6" flat blade
screwdriver to back-off the adjuster. Had to do it by feel since I couldn't
see into the hole. Just felt for the adjuster teeth and rotated the
adjuster in the opposite direction.

I found the brake assemble pix in AllData and upped a copy, link below.

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s58/thisisme_024/1989626rearbrakes.jpg

 

Thanks, ...I'll have another look, but I got up under there and felt
around with my fingers. I may have missed it, but I don't think it's
there...

It looks like I also have to do the right half-shaft, too...

 

Check on Autozone.com:
http://autozone.com/az/cds/en_us/0900823d/80/17/e4/38/0900823d8017e438/repairInfoPages.htm

There are diagrams showing the (approximate) location of the adjusting
holes on the *back plate*.

Lilke the other poster said, the rubber plugs are likely very easy to
miss, especially if there's a lot of dirt buildup.

 

Thanks! But, my latest disaster (posted in the Toyota group...)

___________________________________________


My First CV Joint!


Probably my last. One of those, If it can go wrong, it will...days. First,
couldn't get the steering knuckle off the ball joint. When I did, the boot
was in poor shape. Autozone has a ball joint. What? It's PRESSED IN?!?!?!
WHO THE HELL PRESSES IN BALL JOINTS!!! Replace the lower control arm? I
don't think so.

Then, trying to pry out the axle...I pried the wrong damn part. Instead of
the CV assy, I tryied to pry out the half-shaft. Bent the flange all to
crap. New one is $125...

Bent the flange back...er, somewhat, got the dust boot off the new ball
joint, and on to the old ball joint...er, somewhat, finally got the shaft
into the hub...and the ball joint won't seat...

I started at 3PM. Finished at 9PM. So tomorrow, I'll rip the whole damn
thing apart again and TRY and do it right. The oil seal at the tranny
isn't leaking...for now, so I'll just leave it and see what happens.

And if it needs to be replaced, I'm PAYING someone to do it!!!

(Ya know, there was a guy in town that had a Sunoco station, and he did
repairs, and he replaced the CV joint in my Tercel AWD wagon...2 bolts on
the top of the steering knuckle, two bolts at the bottom, the strut/hub
assy swag out of the way, a quick pry with a screwdriver, insert new oil
seal, slide the shaft in, and four bolts (oh, and the axle nut...) and it
was done. He charged me $25. THAT one I could have done myself!!!)

_______________________________________________________

I have to straighten this mess out before I go back to the brakes.

I'm beginning to think I should just give up and *PAY* someone!!!
(Funny, I'm not usually *THIS* much of a Gumby...)

 

your first best bet is indeed to pay someone else to do it. your next
best bet is to go to evening classes on basic vehicle maintenance. that
way you get to learn safely and without damage either to yourself or to
your own vehicle.

 

Ah, I feel your pain, I've had the odd disaster in my time... things
that you look back on the next day and say to yourself, "WTF was I
thinking when I did THAT???"... things that at first glance with a clear
head, you realize, "Ahhhh, crap, if I'd done it THAT way it woulda been
EASY!"

Of course, if your mechanic will let you watch, it's always an idea to
let a pro do it once and find his secrets... then you'll be better
prepared to do it yourself next time

 

"your next best bet is to go to evening classes on basic vehicle
maintenance. that
way you get to learn safely and without damage either to yourself or to
your own vehicle."

I don't think they cover replacing CV joints/boots or axle shafts in that
type of class.

 

LOL!!!

Yeah, I have rounded shoulders and a flat forehead.

The rounded shoulders are from shrugging when reading the manual, and the
flat forehead is from smacking it when I realize what I *SHOULD* have done!

I saw a guy change one on my Tercel once, but it was an entirely different
animal. 4 bolts and the hub was free of the axle...

Looked easy to me!

Job's done, went for a 10 mile test drive...<knocking on wood>...

 

It's done. I went back at it with a clear head today (after giving much
thought instead of *SLEEPING* last night) and had a much better go of it.

ATF in a manual tranny?!

http://www.autozone.com/N,21200280/shopping/specsSelect.htm

YUP! That's what was in there!

 

Better than the knocking coming from your CVs Congrats on getting it
done!

 

Um, yeah...about that...

Tonight the DRIVER'S SIDE started clunking!!!!