Parking brake left on

I doubt she hurt the antilock system. Besides drums and shoes, I would take a real hard look at the wheel cylinders and axle seals, and a solid brake bleed when done. Also a better brake adjustment and a better parking brake adjustment. tell her to get her old jeans and sweat shirt on cause she's going to help with the repair, let her clean parts. Then she will be intimately familiar with the aroma of over heated brakes.

Whitelightning

Snip

Well, they call 'em idiot lights for a reason... never heard this story before... usually it's the old "The Oil Light Came On, so I came home right away (after

I agree with Whitelightnings post.. anti-lock should be OK... But I would change out the axle seals regardless. Taking out the axles is not that hard, but its a mess oil wise. I bet that thing was red hot most of the way.

Oh yea... replace the drum brake cylinders too.. rubber boots are wasted I'm sure.

HDS

Hello James,

Take it as blessing that she was not hurt, and that it did not catch on fire...

Franko

...usually it?s the old "The Oil Light Came On, so I came home right away (after 50 miles)" story. ...

Sounds like my sister on the 12 hour trip she took. After starting on the trip to Okeechobee Florida where I was, her low oil light came on. She decided to wait until she made it down there. Of course, she sped the whole way down there. She makes that trip in 9 hours. I found less than 1 quart of oil in her engine. Then there is the one time she had an opened poorly sealed can of paint in the trunk tip over. Paint went all over everything. She never cleaned it up. When she had a flat, I had to cut through a thick layer of paint to get to her spare. Your vehicle hasn?t been through anything compared to her ?01 Grand Am. I agree with the others though, there shouldn?t be anything wrong with your anti-lock brakes.

The drums are virtually welded onto the axles, I pounded trying to get them off, I couldn't see any access holes on the back to release the adjuster. Is there someway of getting at the adjuster on this model? I have a generic GM

Since the antilock brake components are nowhere near the rear drum brakes, you will not have any damage done to the antilock brake system.

Kids, eh?

Ian

Ok get your handy dandy map gas torch out and heat the drum around the axle flange area. It will make a loud popping noise when it finally expands enough and then come off. If memory serves me correctly, the adjusting slot is in the front of the drum, not the backing plate, and they are not "punched" out from the factory. Cutting the heads of the hold down pins might make it harder. But since you bring it up, it reminds me to recommend replace the hardware, the return springs have probably been damaged by the heat, and the over ride spring for the self adjuster lever for sure will be weak. As for the fuel mileage, consider the amount of drag induced by the brakes. Whitelightning

One some backing plates, the anchor is bolted, releasing the nut holding anchor pivot and driving pivot into drum assembly will ease removal