How do I reattach the adjuster spring to the self adjuster pawl on a 1991 Ford Explorer XL rear drum brake?

On drum brakes there are two reasons for the drum sticking....
the first is excessive dust buildup. This can be loosened by tapping on the edge of the drum with a hammer or mallet. Not too hard though. The other issue is that over time the inside of the drum will get a wear ridge on the outer edge of the drum and this catches on the brake shoes. Sometimes aggressive pulling can remove it. Otherwise, look at the backing plate of the brake assembly. There is usually a slot near the top (or bottom, depending upon where the self-adjuster screw is). You can insert a screwdriver in here and manually back the adjuster screw off to loosen the brake shoes inside the drum. This will allow removal. Remember though, that after inspection, when you replace the drum, you will need to readjust the self-adjuster back out to where it is close to where it was before. Otherwise, you will have uneven rear braking until the self-adjuster compensates, and that can take a while.

if you have rear drum brakes a return spring that pulls the brake shoes back to the unapplied position or a hold down spring may have broken which is now causing the brake shoes on that wheel to be applied causing the drag not all people bought there cars and trucks with 4 wheel disc brakes it was cheaper and didn't matter to them they just wanted lower $$$ check it out if this is the case you'll have to turn the adjuster star wheel inside the drum all the way in to get the drum off because the brake is applied it will be a pain but you'll get it you must use a brake spoon or a flat blade screw driver and a smaller one to lift up the return spring arm from the star wheel if this one is broken you will have to try to pry the drum off then buy a spring kit from auto parts and some brake tools if you don't have them already and change all the springs one by one so you don't get confused but also try to get a rear brake shoe diagram in case everything has fallen apart inside and you remove the drum and find a whole bunch of parts on the floor in front of you the diagram will give you the aid that you'll need if you have never done this before most of all inspect that wheel cylinder for leaking fluid if this is so replace it now good luck LATER MAN!

Not fully conversant with this model, but wonder if it's possible you have 'auto-adjusters' fitted, and perhaps you didn't wind them back before fitting the new shoes?

parking brakes are self adjusting. I suspect you rear brakes are not self adjusting. too much clearance to the brake drum to brake shoes. May need to replace rear brakes and self adjusters. (hardware)

Rear Brake Shoes- You'll need to know how to remove the rear brake shoes to remove the parking brake cable. REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION Amigo and Rodeo

1. Raise and safely support the vehicle.
2. Remove the rear wheels.
3. Remove the brake drums.
4. Remove the brake return springs.
5. Remove the leading shoe holding pin and spring, and then the leading shoe.
6. Remove the self-adjuster and the adjuster lever.
7. Remove the trailing shoe holding pin and spring.
8. Disconnect the parking brake cable from the trailing shoe and remove the trailing shoe. Remove the parking brake lever from the trailing shoe. To install:
   
9. Attach the parking brake lever to the trailing shoe.
10. Connect the parking brake cable to the parking brake lever.
11. Apply a thin coat of high temperature grease to the shoe contact points on the brake backing plate (locations A and C in the accompanying illustration), piston contact surface (B), and self-adjuster (D). Fig. 1: Exploded view of the rear drum brakes — Amigo and Rodeo
    
    
12. Position the trailing shoe on the backing plate and install the hold-down pin, spring, and retainer. Don't stretch the return spring when fitting the shoes onto the backing plate.
13. Connect the upper return spring and the leading shoe to the trailing shoe and position the leading brake shoe on the backing plate.
14. Install the adjuster assembly and the hold-down pin, spring, and retainer.
15. Use a brake spring tool to install the lower return spring.
16. Install the self-adjuster lever and adjuster spring.
17. Adjust the shoe-to-drum clearance to 0.0098–0.0157 in. (0.25–0.40mm) and install the brake drum.
18. Check the brake drum for scoring or other wear. Machine or replace as necessary. Check the maximum brake drum diameter specification when machining.
19. Install the rear wheels. Lower the vehicle.
20. Road-test the vehicle.

How to replace the rear brake pads on a 1995 through 2001 Ford Explorer The system utilizes a drum-in-hat type rear brake rotor. The integral drum allows the use of a drum-and-shoe type parking brake system. All other components are similar to their front disc brake components Remove the two bolts on either side of the brake hose with the rubber boots. Do not remove the four bolts where the axle ties in. The two bolts to be removed require a 10mm socket/wrench. Loosen the pads from the caliper Rotor Removal In order to take the rotors off (replace with new or have them machined), it is best to loosen the emergency brake shoes. To do this, behind the rotors, in the back there is a rubber plug, remove that and you can use a screw driver to engage the teeth of the adjusting screw, turn it clockwise to loosen, usually 10-20 teeth. Usually this means turn it downward. After this, it may still be difficult to get the rotors off without tapping them. Use a rubber mallet and hit them from behind. Before really whacking the rotor, make sure you have loosened the adjusting screw enough. It may take heavy swings of the rubber hammer to do this. It will eventually break loose. Parking Brake You might want to check the parking brake while you are here. To remove:

• Remove the rear disc brake rotor.

• Remove the outboard return spring.

• Remove the adjusting screw spring.

• Remove the rear brake shoe hold-down spring and pin.

• Remove the brake shoe adjusting screw and nut.

• Remove the front brake shoe hold-down spring and pin.

• Remove both parking brake shoes and the inboard return spring.

• Check the parking brake lever for excessive wear and replace as necessary.

To install:

• Position the front parking brake shoe to the backing plate and install the hold-down pin and spring.

• Install the rear parking brake shoe with the inboard return spring.

• Position the brake shoe adjuster screw and nut on the shoes and install the rear shoe hold-down pin and spring.

• Install the brake shoe adjuster spring.

• Install the outboard return spring.

• Adjust the parking brake shoes and install the rotor, caliper and wheel.

• Lower the vehicle and tighten the wheel lug nuts to 100 ft. lbs. (135 Nm).

ADJUSTMENT

• Measure the inside of the drum portion of the rear brake rotor

• Remove the rear disc brake rotor.

• Using Brake Adjustment Gauge D81L-1103-A or equivalent, measure the inside diameter of the drum portion of the rear disc brake rotor.

• Subtract 0.020 in. (0.508mm) from the first measurement, adjust the brake shoes to that size

• Adjust the parking brake adjuster screw until the outside diameter of the parking brake shoes measures 0.020 in. (0.508mm) less than the drum measurement.

• Install the rear disc brake rotor.

Reassembly Reassembly is easy. Put new or machined rotors back on by sliding them over the lugs (they should slide on easily.) Loosen bleeder valve (having a catch bottle handy is good). Push calipers in slowly (using a c-clamp or large channel lock pliers), close bleeder valve. Put on pads. Lubricate metal clips with small amount of anti-seize. Re-adjust the emergency brake by turning the opposite direction from loosening. Refill the brake master cylinder

Brake shoe removel:

Depress and turn the retainers for the hold-down springs and pins to remove them from each shoe. Slide the brake shoe assembly--including the shoes and springs--down so you can disengage the top ends of the shoes from the cylinder and tilt them to lift them past the retaining plate.

Unhook the lower retracting spring from the front brake shoe to disconnect it. Spread the shoes apart at the bottom to remove the adjusting screw, the screw's retracting spring and the adjuster lever. Remove the front brake shoe.

Pull the parking brake cable spring back with diagonal cutting pliers, grip the cable with the pliers without cutting it, unhook the cable from the parking brake lever and remove the rear brake shoe with the lever.

Disconnect the parking brake lever from the rear shoe by spreading the retaining clip with a screwdriver and removing the clip and its spring washer.

Step 4 Pull the parking brake cable spring back with diagonal cutting pliers, grip the cable with the pliers without cutting it, unhook the cable from the parking brake lever and remove the rear brake shoe with the lever.

Step 5 Disconnect the parking brake lever from the rear shoe by spreading the retaining clip with a screwdriver and removing the clip and its spring washer.

Read more: How to Change Rear Brakes on a 1997 Ford Taurus | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_6123373_change-brakes-1997-ford-taurus.html#ixzz0u2xgUqun

Step 3 Unhook the lower retracting spring from the front brake shoe to disconnect it. Spread the shoes apart at the bottom to remove the adjusting screw, the screw's retracting spring and the adjuster lever. Remove the front brake shoe.

Step 4 Pull the parking brake cable spring back with diagonal cutting pliers, grip the cable with the pliers without cutting it, unhook the cable from the parking brake lever and remove the rear brake shoe with the lever.

Read more: How to Change Rear Brakes on a 1997 Ford Taurus | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_6123373_change-brakes-1997-ford-taurus.html#ixzz0u2xdByQ8

Step 2 Slide the brake shoe assembly--including the shoes and springs--down so you can disengage the top ends of the shoes from the cylinder and tilt them to lift them past the retaining plate.

Step 3 Unhook the lower retracting spring from the front brake shoe to disconnect it. Spread the shoes apart at the bottom to remove the adjusting screw, the screw's retracting spring and the adjuster lever. Remove the front brake shoe.

Step 4 Pull the parking brake cable spring back with diagonal cutting pliers, grip the cable with the pliers without cutting it, unhook the cable from the parking brake lever and remove the rear brake shoe with the lever.

Step 5 Disconnect the parking brake lever from the rear shoe by spreading the retaining clip with a screwdriver and removing the clip and its spring washer.

Read more: How to Change Rear Brakes on a 1997 Ford Taurus | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_6123373_change-brakes-1997-ford-taurus.html#ixzz0u2xVyUAt

Step 2 Slide the brake shoe assembly--including the shoes and springs--down so you can disengage the top ends of the shoes from the cylinder and tilt them to lift them past the retaining plate.

Step 3 Unhook the lower retracting spring from the front brake shoe to disconnect it. Spread the shoes apart at the bottom to remove the adjusting screw, the screw's retracting spring and the adjuster lever. Remove the front brake shoe.

Step 4 Pull the parking brake cable spring back with diagonal cutting pliers, grip the cable with the pliers without cutting it, unhook the cable from the parking brake lever and remove the rear brake shoe with the lever.

Step 5 Disconnect the parking brake lever from the rear shoe by spreading the retaining clip with a screwdriver and removing the clip and its spring washer.

Read more: How to Change Rear Brakes on a 1997 Ford Taurus | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_6123373_change-brakes-1997-ford-taurus.html#ixzz0u2xVyUAt

hit it with a hammer in a few spots toward the edge to pop loose, then spin a little as you pull, if there a lip inside the drum and it wont slide off, then you will need to loosen the shoes by turning the brake shoe adjusters in, theres one on each side, you loosen by turning them in from the rear of the backing plate,also if there are spring nuts on drum remove and discard, they look like flat thin washer over the studs to hold drum on,here are to diagrams to help you remove the drum.

Copy and paste this into your search window: 2002 ford ranger rear brake diagram

You should see four pictures pop up, select the brake parts diagram or the brake picture.

If you look on the side of the drum there is a rubber plug . Remove the plug and use a screwdriver to release the tension by turning the jacking screw.