How do I adjust the rear shoes in to get the drum to slide past the rust lip? I can't get the star wheel to reverse. Thanks, Thom

If the rears are not adjusted right, it could be a problem. And they should be self-adjusting, although often the adjusters get frozen from rust, corrosion, dirt. To adjust them, you drive in reverse and hit the brakes. Every time you do this the adjuster should click-it has made one turn on the adjuster's star wheel. Do it a few times: reverse, press brakes; reverse, press brakes. If brakes were too loose, and adjusters were working, the brake pedal may brake better now-pedal may be higher when brakes are pressed. If not sure, peel off the rubber plug on back bottom of brake backing plate. You should see the adjuster star wheel. Use a screwdriver and see if you can turn the star wheel either way. If still not sure, take the brake drum off, pull the shoes off, and take off the adjuster for cleaning. They are very simple devices, only a few parts to them. If they need cleaning to free up, do so. Then use some high temperature grease, very sparingly, on the adjuster's threads. Put them back on, shoes, and drums, then do the reverse and brake again to get them adjusted. Should work great now. When you pull the drum off, you can check if you need new brake shoes- not likely, but check.
Good luck.

there are bolt holes to use the drum as a puller near the wheel studs but many times the drums build up a rust lip so threw the adjuster hole in the rear backing plate and back the shoe adjuster off or you will brake the shoe hold down hardware

the fluid is brake fluid frond the wheel cylinder...the reason why u cant get the drum off is either a rust lip on the drum or the rear brake shoes have ground into the brake drum...u need to adjust the self adjusting star wheel inward to loosen the rear shoes allowing the drum to be removed...on the back side of the drum is what is called a backing plate there will be a oval hole with a rubber plug in it remove it an use a brake spoon to de adjust the rear shoes by turning the brake spoon up ..if u dont have the oval hole u will need to cut it out of the backing plate there may be 2 oval stamps in the backing plate, cut out the one that is on the right when u r looking at the backing plate

If you have drum brakes, there should be a screw type device that fits between the shoes close to the bottom of the assembly. This is the "star wheel". It is the automatic self adjuster for drum brakes. It is supposed to turn and keep the rear shoes adjusted. It is fair at best because it often seizes up and stops working. You need to turn it in order to back the shoes off. Either in the drum or on the backing plate there should be a slot about an inch long. Reach in there with a screwdriver and turn the star wheel. To back the drums off you need to lift on the screwdriver to turn the wheel down. This works on both sides because one is reverse threaded to work properly. Spin the wheel as you adjust and you will be able to feel resistance when the shoes start grabbing. Back off a 1/2 turn or so until the wheel spins free again.
If you can't make this work, remove the drum and do it that way. If you can't get the star wheel to turn, it is replacable at any auto parts store. Coat the threads with an "anti-seize" coating before you put it in and don't mix them up, as I said earlier one is reverse threaded. This will help keep it working longer. With the drum off move the star wheel until the drum just slides on easily. As you adjust it keep pushing the brake shoes together to keep them tight so your adjustment is true. Also take a look at the inner portion of the drum. If you can feel a lip at the very edge of the drum, this will cause your rear brakes to be too loose. Use a hammer and tap the edge at an angle. This will chip that lip off and let your brake shoes seat properly. Hope this helps.

cut off with a torch...

Actually, you have worn a lip into the drum and the adjuster has done it's job keeping the shoes out close to the drum making it impossible to remove the drum without backing off the adjuster.

You have to go into the back of the hub (there may be a rubber grommet in the access hole) with a screwdriver and adjust the shoes back a bit.

I cannot find a picture of your adjuster, but I believe it is a star wheel. You may want to see if you can get a glimpse of it with a flashlight. The wheel is vertical, so you need to put your flat blade in with the blade horizontal. Move the wheel up or down to see which way loosens the drum. Then back it off until the drum is free.

If this doesn't work, there is always the torch...

These can be tough to get off at times and you are correct in that many vehicles no longer have the oval shaped hole to gain access to the adjuster star wheel. What happens is that as the shoes and drum wear against each other a lip on the outer edge of the drum is formed. Since the shoes have self-adjusted themselves towards the drum as they wear they are now slightly further out than this lip is which makes it very difficult to get the drum to slide off over the shoes. I'm assuming that the drum is loose on the hub and you just can't get it to slide off over the shoes, but if the drum is stuck solidly on the center of the hub and won't budge at all then penetrating oil and tapping on the drum around the wheel studs and center hub will usually get it to come loose. I use an air hammer with a flat/blunt bit to rattle around the center of the hub area on the drum to do this but a ball peen hammer usually works in a pinch.

if the orginal drums there might be a lip of rust and metal buildup that needs to be cleaned off. try also backing the adjuster off to allow the drum to go over the shoes, do the shoes look the same as the old ones, just more materal? Don't forget to adjust the shoes back to the drum so you gte a good pedal feel, and the rear brakes will work properly

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.

block front wheels jack up rear wheels make sure parking brake is off and that the wheel spins freely and waxk it with a big hammer
really just hit the drum top bottom and sides till the rust breaks away
if it breaks away and moves and still wont come off you might need to loosen the adjuster from the slotted hole on the back side

There is an access hole in the back side of the dust cover at the bottom. You can get a screw driver in there, and move the adjuster. If you can't seem to get it, then open the bleeder screw on the wheel cylinder, and move the drum side to side to push the shoes back together.