Hi all. I'm looking for a picture(s)/diagrams of the rear drum brake assembly for a 2001 Saturn L200. Probably any year L-Series all the same.
Hopefully someone has a factory service manual with this info that they can provide.
1 owner since new. Now has 96K on it and the left rear is metal to metal (I can hear it). They are the original brakes. Supposedly was at 2/32" when state inspected but that was only about 1,000 miles ago. Shop must have not pulled the drum or else checked the right side because it's 0/32" now :-(
Regardless, I suspect I am going to have to get aggressive when removing the drums and am afraid the brake shoe components will all fall off when I do get the drum off. I have never once been able to remove a drum on this vehicle. Not sure if the shops ever did for annual inspections or just looked through access hole in backing plate. Actually, I don't even know is there is an inspection plug/hole in the backing plate for this vehicle.
Want to make sure I have reference for correct installation. Thanks in advance for any assistance!

 

I would think yours is like this. IDK, as I'm NOT a mechanic.

 

The video is for the S series which is an American design. Our L series cars are a GM Europe designed car and the brakes are slightly different. The design is similar in that the adjuster is above center with a fixed bottom pivot point. I have factory instructions with drawings.

These instructions assume that the car is not 23 years old and rusty from road salt. Additional time and heat may be needed to remove the drums.

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for clearing that up, Andy. Since the fat bastard didn't mention what type Saturn he was working on, I took a shot. Wrong one, apparently. You posted some good stuff, so I'm pretty sure the OP will appreciate it.

 

Thank you, sir (02 LW300)! Exactly what I was looking for. Rubehayseed, thank you also for the reply.
I got lucky and the 1st drum came off no problem. Thought the brakes completely worn out as previously stated but the left side leading shoe friction material completely unbonded from the steel backing and was causing the noise. Can't complain for 96K miles!
I find it interesting that there is no access to the star wheel on the adjuster from the backing plate. Looks like I can release the lock tab from the star wheel on it from the front through a hole on the hub if I have to but don't see how I could back off the wheel through the same hole. Let's hope I don't have to.

 

If the star wheel isn't caked up with brake dust and works properly after cleaning it, you should be able to make them adjust by driving the car in reverse and putting on the brakes fairly hard a few times. That always worked on my Mopars, anyway.