Any tips?

It is a 99 windstar. The shoes wore down to the point where they dug channels in the drum, and are pushed out into the channels so that the drum can not be pulled off. I have tried:

1. Loosening the brake adjustment screw - I cannot seem to get it to turn.

2. Shearing off the brake shoe retaining pins (in hopes of puling the shoes loose with the drum) - This did not help. If anything, the position of the shoes seems to have shifted in such a way that the drum is even tighter.

3. Heating the drum with a MAP torch and trying to knock it off with an air hammer - Could not seem to get it hot enough to slip off.

 

Be sure your turning the adjusting screw in the right direction. And I hope you are using a tool made for the job.
You may want to give the adjuster a long drink of spray oil lube and wait over nite. I picked up a huge gear pullery long ago, and have given may drums a taste of it. Sounds like the drum is gone so I don't think warping it some will hurt it. Safety tip - if you use a big puller, stand way back when it lets go. It may come off at 50 mph. into your leg or face.

 

Wow, it sounds like the brake adjustment linkage is frozen and all your efforts have only worsened the problem. Time for drastic action I guess. I suggest deeply scoring the drum in several places with a high speed cut-off wheel and die grinder, or alternately (not as good), a saws-all with a metal cutting blade. Smack the drum a couple of sharp blows with a BFH (big friendly hammer) and fracture the cast iron hoop. Wear safety glasses! The center is steel so do not mess with that. If all goes well you should be able to break the drum into pieces so it can be released. Then start the job of replacing the shoes and frozen linkage. Nasty job. I wouldn't try heat again or you just might start a very exciting and toxic brake fluid fire.

Rudy2

 

If it's that bad I would probably cut a few long slits on the drum with a reciprocating saw and then use a flat chisel on the air hammer to split the drum apart. When cutting keep an eye out on the backing plate. This is something I would do if all other fails. Good luck.

Warr

rhoward beat me to the post.

 

I am using a brake adjusting tool I got from a local parts store. It is not a Ford brand tool. Would a Ford tool make a difference? I have wetted the screw down with penetrant in hopes of better turning tomorrow.

I have considered breaking it, but I do not have a sawzall or grinder. I may just go out and buy a grinder if I cant get the screw to turn tomorrow.

 

Get a new set of drums. The van probably needs them anyways. Spray it with lube, get a sledge habber and a piece of 2x4, and beat the hell out of it. Should drop off. I wouldnt worry about bending or breaking or putting anything out of alignment by doing that. Ive done that a million times before. Some others may disagree. Just my 2 cents.


-Matt

 

Success!

I picked up an angle grinder this morning, and just started cutting away chunks of the rim of the drum. After a few hours work, a lot of sparks, 3 cutting disks, and a couple of close-calls with sparks in my eyes that got past the safety glasses (I wend out and got some enclosed goggles to finish the job), I finally had enough off to free one shoe. That was enough to loosen the other side.

I can't tell you what a relief this is. My van has been on jacks in my driveway since Thursday night. I have been getting the evil eye from the neighbors. Our subdivision prohibits mechanical work on cars except for emergency repairs to get the car to the shop. I planned on justifying it by saying that the van was undrivable with a siezed brake drum, and therefore I was doing emergency repairs.

 

Glad you got it fixed! Man I hate housing associations. We have the parking gestappo here too. If we park wrong or make noise with powertools, we get a nasty letter from 'the fuerer' with threats of towing, fines, etc....