Took my car for a drum brake inspection to a local auto shop (couldnt get the damn drum cover off) and when they took apart and told me brakes are fine, i noticed the upper return spring didnt seem in the correct location judging by manuals and videos online.

Vehicle is a 2012 Honda Civic LX



I am not sure why they took everything apart. I got a family member help me put the upper return spring back to factory specs the hole near the brake shoe. Is it me or are the springs also different? I figured they were color coded? Both sides have the same issue.

Thank you.

 

the spring goes all the way across to the far right hole so it uses the same hole on both shoes so the left top hole is correct and the spring needs to go all the way to the right

the best way to do that is to turn the star adjuster so the adjuster is all the way in

the way to remember it is that clicking it up is in and down is out...i remember this because "up" and "in" are both two letters while "down" and "out" are 3 letters or more

I like to use this tool
You put grab the spring just above the star adjuster with the tool and turn the tool in to have the tool grip the spring and then you just pull the spring to the outer hole. You kinda want to do it real fast so it doesn't pull the left shoe and damage the wheel cylinder seal.

 

I went ahead and changed the shoes too as one of the drum shoes was worn down and put the spring back to the far right. That top spring was a nightmare man. I will order that tool for next time I changed the drum brakes.

Thanks for your help.