Car is 01 Accord LX with drum brakes on rear. Just replaced the brake shoes and the pedal is BAD (goes almost to floor). I know the brakes need adjusting and there is the usual slot in the backing plate, but my brake spoon will NOT turn the adjusting wheel from the rear. If I tighten the brakes with the drum off, then I can't get the drum back on. Surely there must be a better way to adjust the shoes with the drum ON. Any advice appreciated.

 

Get the drums cut to take off the ridge at the outer edge.

 

I remove the ridge with an angle grinder or dremel. It's mostly rust anyway, just don't go deep.

 

I'm pretty sure, if you put the car in reverse, and keep rolling and pushing the brake pedal, they will self adjust. You might need to bleed the brakes to get the pedal up, if that doesn't work.

 

Isn't there any way to adjust the brakes thru the backing plate? Is there a special adjusting tool for Hondas?

 

I have a collection of brake spoons and with knowing where the adjuster is I can find one to work if I want to go through the trouble. In theory backing up and applying the brakes should make the adjuster work but they don’t work so well in use. I have always just adjusted the brake adjuster after centering the shoes so the drum barely goes on and called it done. Make sure the parking brake is not holding the shoes out.

 

remove the drums and adjust the star adjuster a few clicks at a time, try to install the drum , if it still turns freely, adjust a little bit more, when drum cannot be installed turn back the star adjuster 3-4 clicks the opposite way till drum goes in and turns freely