Having trouble removing the passenger side rear brake drum on a 2005 pontiac wave. Any suggestions/solutions?

How'* it spin? I ask this to make sure the shoes aren't holding it on. Otherwise, beat it with a rubber mallet. Don't use a ball-peen because you could egg-shape the drum that way, and you don't want that.

At work i just lossen the adjuster all the way up. Then beat it with a hammer till it loose. I use the flat side of the ball bean. I agree with mouse dont wanna use the rounded part.

I meant don't use a metal hammer.

At both dealerships i have worked at everyone uses metal hammers to remove them. Chevy and Toyota. I personal have never had a problem doing that one. Im not saying it dosent cause problems i just have never had any.

Oh, I've never had any problems either. It wasn't until my instructor started talking about how you COULD egg shape a drum if you use a metal hammer. Why not use a rubber mallet? They cost next to nothing.

I have tryed rubber mallets but have never had any success with them. In NY with the salt they rust on. They usual stick around the center due to rust.

This is true, we don't have much rust to contend with.

You have to find the oval opening in the backing plate that gives you access to the adjuster. While pulling on the adjuster lock bar (I make a hook from a coat hanger) you turn the adjuster wheel with a flat blade screw driver to back the brakes off. Sometimes the hole in the back plate will have a rubber plug, sometimes it will be marked but not completely punched and you have to punch it out. If you buy a spring kit for the rear brakes it should come with a rubber plug in case you have to punch it out.

This has nothing to do with rust. Over time, the shoes wear a groove into the drum braking surface, which creates a lip on the drum on either side of the shoe that makes it hard to get the drum off. I suppose you could beat it off (that didn't come out right) but the proper way is to back the adjuster off.

I do back the adjuster all the way off with a brake adjuster tool. Not all vehicles make that groove that you talking about. Some the shoes touch all the way to the edge. I have been working in dealerships for 12 years i know how to adjust brakes. I was just saying how all the techs around here get them off and it is due to the rust from all the salt they use in NY.