brake drum removal
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Senior User
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brake drum removal
1963 F100, Ford 9", rusty drums.
I'm trying to pull the rear drums off and cannot get them to budge (the front two drums slid right off). They spin freely (well, sorta, in a non-binding, older sorta way, like the way I walk in the morning).
Do I
a) beat them with a hammer until they move
b) heat them with a propane torch then beat them until they move
c) order a really big three jawed puller from somewhere (the 8" loaner from Autozone isn't big enough).
d) attach a slide hammer to the lugnut bolts and whack at it until they move (Autozone loans that too)
e) something else???
What's the trick here? Help!
Bob
I'm trying to pull the rear drums off and cannot get them to budge (the front two drums slid right off). They spin freely (well, sorta, in a non-binding, older sorta way, like the way I walk in the morning).
Do I
a) beat them with a hammer until they move
b) heat them with a propane torch then beat them until they move
c) order a really big three jawed puller from somewhere (the 8" loaner from Autozone isn't big enough).
d) attach a slide hammer to the lugnut bolts and whack at it until they move (Autozone loans that too)
e) something else???
What's the trick here? Help!
Bob
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 760
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From: Boise, ID
Make sure the shoes are backed off the drum inside. The shoes may be catching a ridge on the inside of the drums.
If your drums are rusted to the hubs try squirting some good penetrating oil in around the hub and wheel studs. WD40 does not work very well for this sort of thing. After a good soak try using a little "persuasion" to get the drum off.
If your drums are rusted to the hubs try squirting some good penetrating oil in around the hub and wheel studs. WD40 does not work very well for this sort of thing. After a good soak try using a little "persuasion" to get the drum off.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 13,873
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From: Atlanta GA
I agree 100% with the previous post.
If that still does not work, grind off the heads for the posts that hold the hold down springs for the shoes. This will give you enough give (while wiggling it around) to slip a screw driver into the drum and pry the shoes away from the drum. If you try to brute force the drum off at this point, you will wreck the brake cyl. or cause springs to go flying.
If that still does not work, grind off the heads for the posts that hold the hold down springs for the shoes. This will give you enough give (while wiggling it around) to slip a screw driver into the drum and pry the shoes away from the drum. If you try to brute force the drum off at this point, you will wreck the brake cyl. or cause springs to go flying.
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2000
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Here's two tricks that have worked for me:
1. Loosen the lugs slightly, drive the truck about 10 feet forward and hit the brakes. Then do it in reverse. This should break the drum loose.
2. Take 2 crowbars and wedge between the drum and backing plate 180* apart. While holding pressure on the crowbars, have an assistant rap the axle center sharply with a heavy hammer. Hit it with several raps, so that vibrations are transmitted to the hub and drum.
Good luck.
1. Loosen the lugs slightly, drive the truck about 10 feet forward and hit the brakes. Then do it in reverse. This should break the drum loose.
2. Take 2 crowbars and wedge between the drum and backing plate 180* apart. While holding pressure on the crowbars, have an assistant rap the axle center sharply with a heavy hammer. Hit it with several raps, so that vibrations are transmitted to the hub and drum.
Good luck.
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Senior User
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Nice. Can't do 1 as the frame is out getting blasted and the axles are on jack stands in my garage. Will try all the other stuff.
Haven't two crowbars but I've got some 'tar arns' that will do.
Thanks!
Bob
Haven't two crowbars but I've got some 'tar arns' that will do.
Thanks!
Bob
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Man! Finally got them.
1. backed off the adjusters all the way
2. Put 3&1 oil on the hub for 4 days (coated it every night after work)
3. Using tire irons, I wedged one in on each side of the drum between the drum and the backing plate so there was a lot of force on the drum.
4. Using a BFH and a drift, it whacked the drum near the backing plate (force applied towards the outside) a few times and it popped right off.
Note that even after backing off the adjusters, and when I was wedging in the tire irons, I could hear scraping, indicating the shoes were in a deep groove. When the drums finally came off, this was confirmed. I guess I had to force the drum over the shoes.
Thanks for all the help!!!
Bob
1. backed off the adjusters all the way
2. Put 3&1 oil on the hub for 4 days (coated it every night after work)
3. Using tire irons, I wedged one in on each side of the drum between the drum and the backing plate so there was a lot of force on the drum.
4. Using a BFH and a drift, it whacked the drum near the backing plate (force applied towards the outside) a few times and it popped right off.
Note that even after backing off the adjusters, and when I was wedging in the tire irons, I could hear scraping, indicating the shoes were in a deep groove. When the drums finally came off, this was confirmed. I guess I had to force the drum over the shoes.
Thanks for all the help!!!
Bob
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Joined: Feb 2000
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From: Auburn,Al
jus thtought i would throw this out.......a good trick for breaking drums loose when they are rusted to you hub/axle is to put the rear on jackstand with no tires and chalk the front.....get in the truck crank it up and basically power brake it....works every time for me
in my truck i just put it in granny and mash the brake as hard as i can and it works great
JUST BE CAREFUL when doing this
in my truck i just put it in granny and mash the brake as hard as i can and it works great
JUST BE CAREFUL when doing this