Strange problem. On the rear brakes, the slot in the backing plate thru which would normally insert a brake adjusting tool to spin the star wheel is on the wrong part of the backing plate. On the passenger side of the car, the self adjuster and the star wheel are toward the left,or rear of the center of the plate. The slot is to the right of the center, toward the front of the car. I first thought that the brake hardware was installed incorrectly, but that is not the case. Then I thought that the backing plates had somehow switched sides, but an inspection of two other cars shows that this is not the case, both cars had the slots toward the front of the car.
I stopped at the dealer today, and a tech verified that the brakes cannot be adjusted with the drum off.
This just seems too weird for me. The self adjusters are not keeping the brakes adjusted well, and I just want to spin the star adjusters a bit.
I'm thinking that I will just make another slot so that I can access the star adjuster. Has anyone else tried this?
BTW, For some reason, every car I have owned with rear drum brakes always has a problem with the self adjusters, and even before I screw them up!
-David