How to Adjust the Rear Drum Brakes on a 1997 Chevy Cavalier

The 1997 Chevy Cavalier features rear drum brakes that can become unadjusted because of normal wear on the brake shoes and drums. It's important to keep them adjusted because fully-adjusted rear drum brakes only provide about 25 percent braking power for the front-wheel drive vehicle. This means when they become unadjusted, the front brakes over-compensate which can result in premature wear on the front pads and rotors. However, like some GM vehicles, there is not external adjusting port hole in the backing plate to adjust the rear drum brakes.

Instructions

Place a tire block in front of one (or both) of the front tires to brace the Cavalier on a level, hard surface. Ensure the parking brake is not applied.

Loosen the rear wheel lug nuts (after removing the hubcaps, if applicable) 1/4-turn counterclockwise with the jack handle.

Slowly lift one rear quarter panel at a time with the jack and then support each side onto a jack stand place under the frame.

Completely remove the lug nuts and then remove the tires.

Try to remove the drums by pulling them off. If they are stuck to the hubs or the shoes, apply a spray of penetrating lubricant to the mating surface of the hub center and drum. Allow the lubricant to soak in for several minutes.

Strike the face of the drum with the dead blow mallet near the center of the hub without hitting the lug studs. Turn the drum 1/4 turn and continue to strike it until it breaks free from the center of the hub.

Remove the drum. If it is stuck on the shoes, use a slotted screwdriver to pry it off around the circumference of the drum until you work it off (if there is a deep ridge along the interior circumference of the drum, bring it to a parts store or repair facility to have it machined).

Measure the interior diameter of the drum with a brake drum gauge. Use the inside horns of the gauge to measure the brake drum.

Measure the outside diameter width of the brake shoes using the brake drum gauge (using the outside horns). Compare the measurements to one another.

Turn the star-wheel adjuster with the slotted screwdriver so it expands the shoes outward (or inward if necessary; but unlikely) so the width of the shoes is 0.030-inches (0.76-mm) less than the interior diameter measurement of the drum (again, engaging the drum gauge to measure the outside diameter width of the shoes.

Replace the drums over the shoes. Replace the tires and lug nuts and snug the lug nuts flush to the hub with the jack handle.

Raise one side of the Cavalier enough to remove the jack stand on the respective side and then slowly lower it to the ground. Repeat for the opposite side.

Torque the lug nuts in a crisscross pattern to 100-foot pounds with the torque wrench and socket. Remove the tire block(s).