Perhaps telling gran about sucking eggs, but. a word to those not so wise. After years of garage servicing, I found that the securing screws on my rear drums ended up rusted on and had to be subjected to the disc cutter treatment to remove. Simple solution, Use a similar grub screw as a replacement. I used an Allen screw ( was all I had in tool box) with a bolt on it. Bolt fits under the wheel. Next problem, leaky wheel cylinder with a hard to remove securing nut. Same treatment=disc cutter , and I used same idea to replace. MOT man was impressed.

It's never too soon for the angle grinder, likewise when replacing discs if that silly countersunk screw is seized then just hit the disc really hard to snap the head off it, don't waste time fannying about, there's plenty of time once you're snug in your wooden suit...

1 hour ago, VWD said:

Perhaps telling gran about sucking eggs, but. a word to those not so wise. After years of garage servicing, I found that the securing screws on my rear drums ended up rusted on and had to be subjected to the disc cutter treatment to remove. Simple solution, Use a similar grub screw as a replacement. I used an Allen screw ( was all I had in tool box) with a bolt on it. Bolt fits under the wheel. Next problem, leaky wheel cylinder with a hard to remove securing nut. Same treatment=disc cutter , and I used same idea to replace. MOT man was impressed.

Are you pointing out your garage never serviced the rear drums. Back when I had 1997 golf TDI mk3 around 2001. The specialist I used made a point to say they serviced the rear drums when main dealer never went near them. I always knew they were done as the brakes were so much better for several months, then went back to being horrendous as this car was so front heavy being a TDI lump under the bonnet. 

I use an old fashioned "belt it with a hammer" impact driver for disc/drum retaining screws. As long as the screw head's not wrecked before I get there, it works every time. 

22 hours ago, sepulchrave said:

It's never too soon for the angle grinder, likewise when replacing discs if that silly countersunk screw is seized then just hit the disc really hard to snap the head off it, don't waste time fannying about, there's plenty of time once you're snug in your wooden suit...

Sep- wheres the "like button"

As they say in a wll known store"woops" its just shown up.

Gav- I found one drum screw loose ( proving they'd been in ) and another one solid. I'd suggest that the screw is only there to hold the drum on. With my method, you hand tighten the Allen bolt and then nip up the lock nut. Next t9ime, you simply back off the locknut, meaning that on a puncture, drum does not go "crazy" , especially as it tends to do at dark hours, on a country lane ,in the middle of nowhere.