Nissan Quest Drum Removal

The Nissan Quest was introduced by Nissan in 1993. It commonly features front disc brakes and rear drum brakes. Newer versions of the Quest may also feature rear disc brakes. Rear drum brakes employ brake shoes that extend outward to contact the inner diameter of the drum. In order to service the rear brake shoes, the drum must first be removed. Although the Quest uses a drum that is not integrated into the rear bearing, getting it off may sometimes be a little tricky.

Removing the Tire

The Quest should be parked on a hard and flat surface before attempting to lift the rear axle. Do not apply the parking brake because this will extend the shoes and contact the inside of the drum preventing the removal of the drum. Place a wheel chock or block of wood in front of the front tires before lifting. Lastly, loosen the lug nuts of the rear tire or tires you intend to remove the drum from before lifting.

Now, it's time to lift the Quest. Use an appropriate car jack or floor jack and safely support the Quest onto jack stands. Never use the car jack or floor jack as a support.

Once the Quest is secured on stands, continue removing the loosened lug nuts and then remove the tires.

De-adjusting the Brake Shoes

First, try to remove the drum by simply pulling it off. Chances are it will either by rusted to the hub and or stuck on the shoes inside. The rear drum brakes on the Quest use an incremental brake adjuster screw. This is designed to actuate and extend the shoes out farther whenever sufficient wear occurs. This mechanism is integrated into the brake shoe assembly, but can be accessed from a portal located on the rear of the backing plate. A protective rubber plug is usually in place to prevent moisture and debris from the road getting in. Remove the rubber plug by prying it out of the port.

Next, because it's hard to see what you're doing from the positioning of the port, locate the adjusting lever by feel with a small screwdriver. The lever locks the adjuster screw in position after it adjusts to wear. You will feel a small metal tab that simply needs to be pushed slightly away from the adjuster screw. Once the lever is away from the adjuster screw, use a brake adjusting spoon or a stubbed slotted screwdriver to turn the ridges of the adjuster screw. Turning it one way will tighten the shoes to the drum and prevent the drum from rotating. Turning it the other way will draw the shoes away from the drum and the drum will become looser and looser eventually allowing removal.

Removing the Drum

The last thing to consider is perhaps the drum is stuck onto the rear hub and lug studs by rust. Since they're exposed to the elements, it's not uncommon for this to occur.

Spray some lubricating spray around the diameter of the lug studs and the center hub where the drum an hub meet. Wait a couple of minutes for the lubricant to soak in. Strike the flat facing of the drum near the edge with a dead-blow hammer to shock it free from the corroded adhesion. A smack or two is all it should take once the brake shoes are de-adjusted. Once it breaks free, simply pull the drum the remaining way off of the shoe assembly.