I haven't tried on the Vibe, but on other cars I've had with drum brakes, after a while the drums get worn, leaves a raised lip on the drum, and the pads self adjust to the point where the lip on the drum doesn't clear the brake shoes. Had to reach in the little hole on the back (axle side) with a couple screw drivers to back off the adjuster, then bang on the drums a little to get the shoes to retract. Don't know if that's the problem you're having or not
There's a threaded hole on your drum. You need to find a bolt that will thread into that hole and you just bolt it on and the drum should start sliding off.Inder
2008 Chevy Cobalt SS Turbo - Fun stuff under there somewhere 1998 Nissan Sentra - Sold2004 Pontiac Vibe - 107k and SoldCosmo CAI
Unless this car is completely different than every other car with drum brakes, just use something to smack on the front of the drum on one side, then smack the other, after a couple hits it will have wiggled the pads loose enough to pull off by hand, much easier.
thanks for all the help. Now for the rest of you.......The rears drums come off easily, but only using 8.8MM bolts in the threaded holes in the drum like a built in puller. Dont beat them up, I almost started to.....and also dont be fooled by OLD US iron, these adjusters are at the top, not the bottom of the backing plate. Mine were actually OK, 46k miles on the shoes and the adjustment was OK. George in TallahasseePS: My leaking sunroom may not be at all. READ a thread on the leaking roof seal. Not finished checking yet, but it appears to be draining OK. But it does leak water at the top of the A pillar when it rains hard!