Drum brakes (on trailer)

O.A.P

I am having a go at replacing the brake shoes on my trailer and while trying to remove the drum I took out a bolt from the back plate. After lots of beating the drum with a hammer it refuses to budge and now I cannot get the bolt back in either, what this bolt is for I'm not sure maybe someone here might and any tips on getting off a very stuck drum apart from more hammer work would be great.
Thanks for any advice.

dharn

looks like you need to remove the center cap and remove a large nut plus the center bearing before the hub comes off, sometimes the brake shoes have to be adjusted back before the hub slides off

O.A.P

Thanks for the reply dharn and I tried to get the center cap off but no move out of it yet anyway,
I just got a filter pliers on it and off it came. It looks to be held on with the hub nut like you said thanks again.

O.A.P

I have checked all 4 sets of shoes and there is plenty left on them, so they need adjusting. (which is what the nut I had taken out is for)
They worked fine with the hand brake before I started but were very poor on the road, anyway I have them tightened up so when the drawbar ram is half compressed the brakes are full on, but I dont know if this is too tight and might make them jam on while reversing. Is there any set rule to follow here? before I take trailer down off the stands only to find out there still not fixed.
If the mods feel this is better suited to the 4x4 diggers and plant forum please move it. Thanks

Buford T Justice

If there are brakes on the trailer, then surely behind the hitch there's a flat piece of metal to hinge into the way to prevent the brakes coming on when braking?