Honda Accord LX: Best method to NOT destroy rear brake hardware & Drums?

Question

Im trying to get the rear drums off my 2000 accord lx. I cant get the brake adjusters to free up. I have a brake spoon but the sprokets are seized and dont move.Any advice so I dont have to destroy both drums and about $250 of hardware???? Also Honda techs: are the bolt holes in the drums SAE or Metric, and, can I press off the drum this way? Also Pointers on how to move the adjusters so the shoes will clear the ridge on the drums!!

Answer 1

I have seen drum brakes that were allowed to wear until the adjusters popped out of the thread. When that happens there's no way to get the adjusters backed off and it's crowbar time. It's also usually new drum time as the drums are so deeply cut they can't be turned. My experience is that the E Brake actuator arm and spreader get messed up also in getting them apart and have to sometimes be replaced as well, if they can't be successfully straightened..  

Answer 2

The threaded holes are 8mm X 1.25, I THINK.  They are metric, anyway.  They are there to press the drum off.  The pins that hold the springs that keep the shoes against the backing plate stick through the backing plate.  You can cut them off.  This should allow the brake shoes to come off with the drums ( somewhat )   ;)  

Then all you have to replace are the pins.  Unfortunately there isn't a way to access the adjuster on those brakes.  Releasing the brake fluid by means of the bleeder s***w wont work, by the way since the adjusters stop the shoes from moving inward.