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How to Remove a Saturn Ion Rear Brake Drum There are a couple of scenarios that can make removing the rear brake drum on a Saturn Ion slightly confounding. The Ion's drum is not a bearing-held assembly that's bolted to the rear spindle; it's called a "knock-off" drum, and despite this nickname, it's often stuck to the rear mating joint of the axle. The shoes underneath the drum can also hang up the drum. The idea, of course, is to remove the drum successfully without damaging the drum, the shoes, the hardware or the hub of the axle. Things You'll Need Wheel nut removal tool Car jack Jack stand(s) Lubricant spray Ball peen hammer Slotted screwdriver Brake spoon adjusting tool Instructions Do not apply the parking brake or you'll be unable to remove the rear drums on the Saturn Ion. (One of the rear shoes is attached to the parking brake cable and activates when you apply the parking brake.) Loosen the rear wheel nuts using the whe...

How to Release a Stuck Parking Brake In many vehicles, the parking brake can get stuck if left engaged for a long period of time, or if subjected to overzealous application. If you feel the unmistakable drag of a seized parking brake when you're in your vehicle, try to determine the location and cause of the jam. There may be rust or corrosion, and problems can occur in the cable, the lever or the brake assembly. Things You'll Need Jack Hammer Penetrating rust remover Screwdrivers Wrenches Instructions Agitate the brakes physically by applying and releasing the brake a number of times. Or shift alternately into drive and reverse to lurch the vehicle back and forth. Or bounce the car up and down near the seized wheel. Support the car securely on a jackstand. Remove the wheel to gain access to the seized brake. Take care not to damage any parts as you tap the brake assembly with a hammer to free the pads from the disc or drum. Test the parking brake cable to see...

How to Adjust Toyota Tacoma Drum Brakes You can adjust the drum brakes on your Toyota Tacoma right from your home garage, saving yourself time and money. There are adjusters on the rear brakes that keep the shoes in the proper place as the shoes wear down. But if you replace the shoes or drive off-road, the adjusters may need to be manually adjusted to ensure that the shoes stay in the correct position, allowing the brakes to function properly. Things You'll Need 4 wheel chocks Lug wrench Jack 2 jack stands Flat-head screwdriver Ignition key Instructions Position wheel chocks behind and in front of each of the front wheels. Loosen the lug nuts on the rear wheels using the lug wrench, but don't remove yet. Raise up the rear of the vehicle using a jack and slip jack stands under the vehicle next to each of the rear wheels for support. Lower the Tacoma onto the jack stands. Remove the rear lug nuts and wheels and set aside. Find the brake adjuster, which is...

How to Install a Brake Booster on a 2005 Ford Expedition It was in the early 1920s when the prestigious carmaker Pierce-Arrow Motor Car Company added a vacuum assist to its brake systems, making them the first cars with a brake booster. Your 2005 Ford Expedition has come a long way from those early days. If you've driven a car with manual brakes -- and not many people around today have -- you have an appreciation for the power brakes that come standard on nearly every car sold in the U.S. Things You'll Need: Memory-saver device Ratchet Socket set Nut-driver set Allen driver set Mechanic's wire or bungee cord Pliers Foot-pound torque wrench Inch-pound torque wrench Removal Open the hood and allow the engine to cool, if necessary. Install a memory-saver device according to the manufacturer's procedure. Loosen the negative battery cable terminal clamp nut, using a ratchet and socket. Rotate the terminal slightly on the post to help br...