# Brake Drum Removal - Disengage Adjusting Lever **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [May 23, 2009, 1:00am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/brake-drum-removal-disengage-adjusting-lever/30858 "2009-05-23T01:00:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cliffdodge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@cliffdodge](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cliffdodge)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2009, 1:00am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/brake-drum-removal-disengage-adjusting-lever/30858/1 "2009-05-23T01:00:10Z")
99 Ford Taurus - I need to pull the rear drum off. I tried to turn the shoe adjuster, but it won’t spin. The manual says to disengage the adjusting lever with a screwdriver. How do I do this? I know where the adjusting lever is, but do I push it away from the shoe adjuster? Do I spin it down? I have never had to do this, but the shoe adjuster screw won’t budge. Thanks cliff ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2009, 1:15am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/brake-drum-removal-disengage-adjusting-lever/30858/2 "2009-05-23T01:15:09Z")
Take a small screwdriver and push the adjuster plate away from the star wheel. Now take a drum brake adjuster tool and back off the star wheel. If don’t understand this, it’s probably better to take it to someone who does. Tester ---
**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2009, 2:33am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/brake-drum-removal-disengage-adjusting-lever/30858/3 "2009-05-23T02:33:54Z")
do I push it away from the shoe adjuster? YES Do I spin it down? YES ---
**Author:** ![cliffdodge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@cliffdodge](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cliffdodge)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2009, 3:37am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/brake-drum-removal-disengage-adjusting-lever/30858/4 "2009-05-23T03:37:46Z")
Thanks to all. I’ve done countless brake jobs, just never had a screw not loosen the first time. I’ve never pushed the adjusting lever before.