How do you change rear brake pads on 1979 Chevrolet Camaro?

Answer 1

The 1979 camaro plaform had rear drum brakes. Put vehicle in park (if auto). Loosen rear lug nuts on both rear tires. Do not set parking brake. Block front wheels to prevent jack roll off. Jack up from center of rear end so that both rear tires are off the ground. Put vehicle on jack stands. At the inside bottom of the rear wheel drum backing plate is a small slot that is blocked by a piece of black rubber. Remove the rubber. Inside this slot is a star wheel. Loosen this star wheel with a standard screw driver. You can't see it, but you can feel the notches in it. It's like a little spur. If it stops right away, you went the wrong way. You can tell when it is loosened enough because you can start to move the brake drum more easily. Spray a SMALL amount of WD-40 at the base of each lug stud. You should now be able to remove the drums. Don't drop them on the driveway or you might ruin them. Inside, you will see the brake shoes for the primary brakes and parking brakes. ONLY TAKE ONE SIDE APART AT A TIME> use the other side as a model for how the brakes go back together. There is a brake spring removal tool that they sell at parts stores that is nearly worthless. You can undo the springs with your fingers. Use non-chlorinated brake cleaner spray on all your parts. If the inside of your drums is at all scored or tracked from the old shoes, have them turned on a brake lathe at a machine shop. Reassemble. Don't forget to re-tighten the star wheel until the shoes just make contact with the drums.