I am doing my rear drum brakes – yes I removed them and trying to install new shoes, but I can’t get the Upper Return Spring(Big one) on to the shoes – how can I do this?
Please help me I don’t have special tools, just pliers and screw drivers and hammer

I am pretty sure pro mechanics have an easy way around this.

Do I install that crazy spring first or after mounting shoes to the brake plate ?

Thanks in Advance

 

I use a pair of large needle nosed pliars... it works very well

 

Be careful when replacing the return spring, as they are usually very strong. It is recommended to also wear eye protection.

Using a pair of vice grip is safer, that way there is less chance of the spring coming loose, and injuring yourself. (A regular needle nose plier will work, but there is a greater change of the spring coming loose from the plier.)

 

yeah channel locks are good but the ones I have are too large to use and I hook the needle on the end of the spring and pull it to the hole. Works fairly well

 

Honda also sell a special tool that lets you you twist them into place, if you do alot of em.

 

Thanks everyone!
Home Depot long nose vice grip did the job – it was pretty easy to install the spring with vice grip and lot safer. Now I have to bleed all my brake lines, because I pop and drop one of the brake cylinder last night while I am struggling with normal pliars

Now I have to find a 3rd Leg to push the paddle

 

buy a 1 man bleeder kit...will save you a lot of time

 

I just use a short piece of hose and a bucket.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Chiovnidca &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I just use a short piece of hose and a bucket.</TD></TR></TABLE>

, gravity bleeding.

 

gravity bleed, or use a buddy system. lol.