Who thought of this system? Remove wheel (remove lug bolts doused in loc-tite by previous owner), remove drum access screws (doused in loc-tite from previous owner), remove drum (if it proves to be reluctant to being removed, you may need to heat it...seriously? am I the only first-time car rebuilder to not have an extra blow torch in my garage (3 lb. sledge does the same job)), (take a picture so you can make it look similar when completed, yeah, does a picture from the front side show the **** on the back side, behind the axle flange?...NO!) remove the top spring, let every piece drop onto the floor before you get one last chance to gaze upon the intricacies of the braking mechanism, install new shoes where less than admirable shoes once were before they fell onto the garage floor (really, this wasn't so bad until I unhooked that odd c-clamp with a t-headed bolt through it, but the story has to be made worse for the enjoyment of reading), hook one brake up using the odd c-clamp to hold it in place, try to juggle one tough spring, the odd gold piece, and that goofy hinge, with maybe two fingers behind the axle flange whilst you pull the tough spring over to the hole on the other side of the world. DONE! (minus the bottom spring which was far less tough)

Trying to hook the top spring while juggling the pieces behind the axle flange (I'm sure it has a much better, more technical name like 'axle half-shaft with 4 lug bolt holes' or something like that) is like watching a Saint Benard trying to come in through the cat door. Fortunately, I have small fingers to hold the pieces...unfortunately, I don't have forearms like Popeye cuz I don't get hot and sweaty every time I see an RX-7 and feel the need to rub one off. This exercise was less than enjoyable, but again, something else I can brag about down the road when someone asks me, "So, did you do all the work yourself?"

FYI, the previous owner did not soak the brake shoes in loc-tite or rub some on the inside of the drum...it was just reluctant to being removed and needed some special attention, which it received.

 

Yes, seriously. What you should have done while you were in there (just because its a huge bitch) was turn drums and replace brake cylinder. Now when your brake cylinder eats it in 3 months you're gonna have to do it all over again.

 

Drums were turned.

 

Its all good man I was just messin with ya

 

Get yourself a 1" wide web strap with a buckle on it from the hardware store for about $2; use the strap around the outside of the shoes to hold them tightly in place against the cylinder/pivots while you remove or attach the springs & clips.

See details here: https://www.rx7club.com/1st-gen-archive-71/how-rear-axle-bearing-seal-replacement-966704/

Also, as mentioned, the drums come off a whole lot easier if you loosen the e-brake cable adjustment and shoe adjusters, first.

You're welcome!

 

If the wheel cylinders go...I'm bringing it to the brake shop.

 

dont forget to loctight everything back in place

 

Sounds like a standard drum brake job to me... They are never fun, no matter what vehicle they are on.

 

Just takes a little patience and one of those little spring hook tools. I guess us old guys have just done enough of 'em that we dont really realize how much of a pain in the *** they are!

 

It takes less time to swap in a disc brake rear end with limited slip than it does to rebuild rear drum brakes. Best thing I ever did to my car.




.

 

LOL! I grew up changing drum brakes so its all second nature to me I guess.
I always make sure I have the basic tools before starting:

1. BFH - check
2. Torch - check
3. Long nosed pliers - check
4. 1 hour drum turning service - check

 

Or you could convert to discs....

 

Less time to swap one in, maybe... once you FIND one that's not 6 states away. & not already been 'drift-kiddied' into garbage.