[All Rize]

I hate to have to ask but I've been struggling w/ this thing for over an hour!! First, I bought this car a little over a year ago and have never inspected the brakes.... I figured it was time so I can clean them up and replace some shoes / wheel bearings if nec... Well, the drivers side front drum will not come off.. I've tried the shoe adjuster through the backing plate (which seems to be working just fine) and it still won't come off. Anyone know what it's like to have a drum kicking your AS@??? Any ideas or handy tricks that might help??? I appreciate any feedback.
-Mark
NOTE: THIS IS THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE.... (4-WHEEL DRUM)

[66PROGTO]

Well it sounds like your pretty upset. Did you pull the cotter pin and castlated nut ? They should be under the dust cover. Otherwise, make sure you are turning the adjuster the right way.

[All Rize]

Thanks... I'm actually not that upset; I've just never had this much trouble w/ a drum before... I did remove the pin, nut and outer bearing; in fact, the passenger side is off and came off without any trouble. I went both directions w/ the adjuster just for the heck of it, when it didn't come off easily....
This is where I'm baffled; I figure the front shoe is holding on but don't know what I should do short of yanking and damaging alot of parts... Any ideas???
Thanks

[Jerry H.]

What 66Pro said above. If that doesn't work, try a bigger hammer! LOL

[PunchT37]

Time to get personal with that b!tch. Get a large prybar and apply pressure between the drum and backing plate. Then with a large hammer beat that drum while prying with the bar.

[b-man]

Wow, sounds like a big hassle.

You might try using a torch to heat the spindle a bit, the bearing race might need that little bit of heat to break free from the spindle.

Good luck.

[PunchT37]

Damn. My ears are ringing. LOL

[All Rize]

LOL.... Whether it comes off or not, this got funny real fast . Like PunchT37 says "it's time to get personal with that b!tch!!! Thanks for all the input.... I'M GOING BACK IN !!!! I'll keep you posted....

[68coupe]

BEAT

[engineer]

NO big hammer or torch please. That is not necessary, if you have the big nut and cotter pin and outer bearing off and the drum\hub does not come off, do not heat it or beat it, just go on the back side of the backing plate and either punch or drill out the two pins that hold brake shoes onto the backing plate. without those pins, (which can be bought new at the local auto store) there is nothing holding the brake linings to the backing plate so they will be loose inside the drum and all the hardware will come out when the drum\hub is removed. You will have to replace those pins. then some gentle force around the drum will allow you to remove the parts.

[Bill Eveland]

Sounds like the shoes are stuck inside the drum from the rust ridge on the edge of the drum, verify the shoes are adjusted down as far as possible first before attempting to pry the drum off. If you dont cut the back of the hold down pins, they will sometimes pull thru the washer on the spring. Either way probably the only way it's coming off.

[All Rize]

I am happy to annouce the drum has been removed..... However, the inner wheel bearing has not!! That is what was holding the drum on. The bearing is still attached to the spindle!! Looks like the brakes will need to come off (which look fine as far as thickness) so I can remove the bearing. Has anyone had this happen before? If so, any insight??? Would it be best to try to heat it before removing?
Keep em' coming....

[Grant Miller]

Sometimes you can break it free by putting a pipe wrench on it. You can also remove it with a cutoff wheel on a die grinder. Just be careful not to cut the spindle too much. Once you get most of the way through it, try the pipe wrench again, sometimes it will give enough to go ahead and come off.

[b-man]

I figured the bearing race was stuck.

I would apply a little heat to it to help it come free, a little penetrating oil would help too.

I was never advocating using a lot of heat on the spindle, just a little to help loosen up the stuck bearing race.

Use the cutoff wheel as an absolute last resort.

Can you hear me now?

[All Rize]

Loving the responses.... I'M GOING BACK IN!!!!!

[66PROGTO]

I had this happen on my Chevy dually several years ago. I used a gear puller to remove the inner bearing from the spindle. Came off easily. Don't use a hammer or cut off wheel unless you are prepared to buy a new spindle. Once you get it off clean spindle well with lacquer thinner, then install new bearings.

[All Rize]

Borrowed Gear puller from Auto Zone and it worked easily ... Thanks For all the replies........

[b-man]

No problem, anytime.

Glad I could help.

[GTOLou]

Great thread.

[vidguy]

Those are some big ...um... letters.. B-Man