How do you remove a rear brake drum cover on a 1997 dodge Dakota?

Answer 1

Make certain that the parking brake isn't set or the drum will never come off. It should just slide off but often needs a little persuasion in the way of wiggling or a mallet.

In extreme cases where the drum is extremely worn and has developed a lip inside, you are going to have to manually back off the shoes by using two flat screwdrivers or brake tools to turn the starwheel inside the drum. To do this, you need pry off the rubber cover (it should be about 1/2 inch by 1 inch. Or it may also be missing) on the back side, bottom of the brake housing. Look inside with a flashlight and you should see what looks like a small sprocket with a small lever contacting the top of it. To loosen the shoes, insert one screwdriver and lift the lever off of the sprocket, then engage the sprocket with your screwdriver and, with a prying motion, turn the sprocket. Sorry, I don't remember which way, up or down, so you'll have to experiment (50/50 chance right?), but know that both sides adjust the same; That is, if turning the starwheel up loosens the shoes on one side, up will loosen the other side as well.