Put the vehicle in reverse, drive backwards, and stop abruptly several times. Set and release the parking brake several times. If the brakes feel more even and responsive when you press down on the pedal, the self adjuster is working and you don’t need to manually adjust the brakes.
Secure the vehicle. Park on a flat, level, solid surface and put the vehicle in park (automatic) or first gear (manual). Place chocks against the front of the front tires. Don’t engage the parking brake. Loosen the rear lug nuts. Grab a lug wrench (tire iron) and twist each lug nut counterclockwise until it just breaks free and begins to spin. Lift up the rear of the vehicle. Set the jack at one of the designated jack points and slowly lift one tire. Use a jack stand to hold up that side of the vehicle, then remove the jack. Jack up the other tire and insert a jack stand. Remove the rear tires. Loosen the lug nuts the rest of the way and set them aside in a spot where you won’t lose them. Pull off the tire (again, actually the entire wheel), then repeat the process with the other rear tire.
If you can’t locate the plug by feel, carefully slide your upper body under the vehicle and find it visually. As a novice, you’ll have to be in this position to adjust the drum brake anyway.
It’s best to reinstall the existing rubber plug, but if you do happen to lose it, you can buy a replacement!
If needed, use a flashlight to help you slot the blade of the spoon in place. Before long you’ll be able to slot the blade by feel. Yes, you can just use a flat-head screwdriver instead. But it’ll be a little trickier to get the screwdriver’s straight shaft in the right position to slot into the star wheel.
Usually, but not always, turning the star wheel downward will tighten it. If, however, the star wheel doesn’t want to spin that way (because the catch lever is stopping it), try turning it upward. Whichever direction spins more easily is the way that tightens the drum brake.
If the drum spins freely without resistance, reinsert the spoon, move the star wheel 2-3 more clicks, and check how the drum spins again. If the drum spins with steady, even, slight resistance, move on to adjusting the drum brake on the other rear wheel. If the drum catches or sticks, move the star wheel in the other direction to loosen the brake (see the next step).
There’s no denying it—this is a tricky maneuver, which is why it’s best not to over-tighten the brake in the first place.
Press the rubber plug securely into place. Lift the wheel into place and slide it onto the mounting bolts. Tighten the lug nuts most of the way, but not completely tight. Repeat the process with the other wheel. Set up the jack on one side, lift the vehicle just enough to remove the jack stand, then lower that side of the vehicle with the jack. Remove the jack stand on the other side in the same manner. Hand-tighten the lug nuts completely with the lug wrench. Remove the chocks from in front of the front wheels.
If the brakes feel loose, “squishy,” rough, or uneven, or if you hear unusual scraping or squealing sounds, either fine-tune the brakes again or contact a mechanic to look over the brakes for you. It may also be time to remove the brake drums and replace the brake shoes.
