Nissan Repair: rear drum brakes, rear drum brakes, drum brakes

Question
I have a 1995 Nissan p/u with rear drum brakes I need to replace (never been done). I am having a really hard time getting the drums off. Any advice?

Answer
Matt,

The drums are probably stuck since the shoes wear into the drum and then there is a lip that you have to get over to get the drums over.  First, jack up the truck and support it with stands and block the wheels.  Be sure you are on a flat surface and the truck is not going to fall on you.  After that crawl under the truck and take out the inspection plug on the backing plate and get a thin screwdriver and a brake adjuster tool.  Buy one at the local parts store.  You will need to screw in the adjuster while you hold the clip off it.  The adjuster will screw one way and not the other with the adjuster in place.  So, when you go to loosen the adjuster with just the tool it will only go one way.  Now, use the screwdriver to push the clip off the adjuster and screw in the adjuster until you can get the drum off.  It takes some time to get the feel of it as you will be rotating the adjuster while you have the screwdriver in the same hole.  But, when you get the feel of it the process is pretty quick.