Abstract: A tool for spreading apart opposed spring biased brake drum shoes adjacent one end to facilitate access to a brake cylinder. The tool includes a pair of fork members having depending prongs mounted on a shaft having screw threads along its length. A first of the fork members is carried in a stationary position relative the length of the shaft while the second of the fork members is carried for driven motion by the screw threads longitudinally of the shaft. In operation the fork members are positioned to be substantially together so that they may be engaged with a projectioning surface of each opposed brake shoe. The shaft is rotated causing the fork members and said brake shoes to be moved in diverging directions a distance sufficient to separate the brake shoes from the cylinder.