My rear drums are stuck on. I tried to hit them with the sledge hammer, that has usually done it for me, but this time it didn't, and it kind of scares me. I was wondering where the back off adjuster is? I can't seem to find it. Is it under that 1" nut on the backing plate? Is there any other tips to getting them off? Because they are stuck on there does it mean it is time for new brakes, or is this fairly common for both good brakes and bad brakes?
thanks for the info
pop

Are they stuck on the axle or do the move but will not get past the shoes? If they are stuck on the axle and your car runs OK then here is somethig to try. Start the engine and put the car in Drive and get up some speed , then spike the brakes. Shift into Reverse and do the same brake spike from speed. A few cycles of this will usually loosen them.

they are just stuck on the shoes, the car runs and stops fine. By spike the brakes, do you mean just stop real hard, hard enough to lock up the tires? or something else.
thanks for the tip

if they are stuck on the shoes you either have a deep groove or a ridge
either way you will probably have to release the adjuster from the star wheel the back off the star wheel
if stuck to the axle then put a brass hammer between two of the studs then hit the other side of the head of the brass hammer head with an other hammer a couple of times till it comes loose
and wear your safety glasses

to back off the star wheel adjuster mechanism, insert an awl or very thin long screwdriver thru the hole at the bottom of the backing plate that is covered by the rubber plug. Push the awl against the self adjusting mechanism and move it back about half inch. While holding that adjuster out of the way, turn the star wheel with a screwdriver, or better yet, a proper drum brake adjuster tool. You cannot loosen the star wheel adjuster screw without pushing the adjustment mechanism back. A picture of this is shown in most GM chassis service manuals in chapter 5 on brakes. Most older years use the same photos. It might be wise to shoot some wd40 onto the adjuster screw before you try backin it off, they can seize after many years. If my memory serves correct, to back off the driver side rotate the star wheel down with your adjusting tool that you have inserted thru the backing plate hole.

An even easier way to do it is with heat. Just heat the drum with a hot-air tool or hair dryer, and the drum will come easily off as it expands. It worked great for me.