What's the trick to rear drum removal??

[JJMiller]

Help! I'm trying to do my 15k rear brake adjustment--and I can't get the drums off! When I pull the wheel, I see three orange-painted washer thingies on some of the lugs. I took them off, the thing won't budge. The smaller circle of bolts looks too much like it's holding in lubricant or something, so I havn't tried taking them off before I get some advice here...



My emergency brake is even off this time



TIA



--J

 

[Shovelhead]

Rear drum removal

Jack up rear of vehicle.

Block front wheels.

PLACE JACKSTANDS UNDER REAR AXLE!!!

Leave a couple of lugnuts loose on studs.

Start engine.

Place in gear.

When axles are turning, hit brakes.

Should pop drums loose, if not repeat.

 

[Phil Stuart]

Rear Drums

John,



Try loosening the star wheels a bit (back off on the shoes)and yes I also had to remove the little metal washers on the studs. I just threw mine in the trash. Do not loosen the smaller bolts on the hub or else the axle will be able to come out and you'll have lube all over the place. Then try rapping on the sides of the drums with a ball peen hammer or something hard to break them loose then they should pull right off.

hope I helped.



Hey Shovelhead, where at in Northern Va. ?

I used to live in Fairfax near rt. 123 & rt. 66 in Vienna. Just curious.



Phil Stuart

 

[Spooled-up]

Drum removal

I just did this the other day:



I took a regular hammer and hooked the claw part to the lip of the drum where I could apply some pressure toward me. I then took a large rubber mallet to the other side of the drum. It popped off on the third or fourth hit with the rubber mallet.



I had been hammering on the thing for 10 minutes to no avail. When I tried it on the other side it worked just as well without hammering for the 10 min.



I think there is just a coating of rust that gets between the drum and the axle that holds the drum on there like glue. I made sure that the shoes were not touching the drum and holding it on by spinning the drum and listening for rubbing before I started hammering.



Hope this helps.

 

[Shovelhead]

Another NorVA CTD

Wazzzzup Phil,

I'm closer in to town. Near Sycamore Street & 66.

Where did you move to?

Out further from D. C. I hope I've got another 10 years of working before I'll make the "move"

 

[Ram_Kowboy]

why are you pulling the drums off to do a rear brake adjustment? Just adjust the star wheels through the access holes on the backing plate. Tighten a couple of clicks at a time while you slowly rotate the drum. When you start to hear slight rubbing, you are good to go!

 

[DieselB59]

You should pull the drums off every 12K or each tire rotation to examine the rear brake linings for gear oil. It's sometimes best to catch a leaky rear axle seal before it contaminates the rear shoes. It's much easier to do a seal job than to replace the rear shoes. When you do finally hammer the drums off, put some antisieze on the base of all the studs and where the drum contacts the hub. It will make removing them the next time a much easier affair.

 

[JJMiller]

Kowboy:



B59 hit it on the head--I wanted to inspect the parts while I was at it.



--J