The way I used to do drum brakes (most everything on the fleet is disc these days except for the heavies which still have foundation brakes), was to install the shoes with the hold down springs. One that was done, install the bottom spring. THEN, pull on the bottom of one shoe and install the adjuster. After that, you hook one spring in either shoe, and with the long slender side of that brake tool, place the opposite spring hook on the smooth rod portion of the tool. Hook the small little curved "hook" of the end of that rod over the spring stud. Push up and opposite of where the spring is hooked to the shoe. The spring will stretch, then get to the point where it will slide down the rod. At that point it will snap over the spring stud. It goes quick and can surprise first timers. If it's not quite all the way hooked, push it with the end of the tool. Repeat for the last spring. Should take seconds!
By the way, the other arm of the tool is used for taking springs off. Put it over the spring stud, hooking the spring with the little tab. Spin the whole tool. The spring pops off.
I rarely used the plier side of the tool unless there was an oddball spring that needed to be unhooked from the shoe. Usually on the more medium duty or heavy duty trucks.
