How do you get a brake drum off?
11-07-2010, 02:54 PM
#1
Fanboi
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How do you get a brake drum off?
I did a brake job on my truck as the front pads were finally getting close to the backing plates after 75,000 miles. Swapped in fresh pads, serviced the calipers, and flushed the entire system.
I wanted to take the rear drums off the check the shoes, but for the life of me I couldn't get them off on either side. I've taken them off once before, around 50,000 miles on the clock, and beat them with a mallet and wiggled them off, but this time no go. FWIW there's no threaded hole to force a bolt in against the hub.
Is there somoe other thing I'm overlooking or a special tool?
Thanks,
Brian
EDIT: Coloradofans.com says there's no fancy tool or method. Just have to hit the drum with a hammer around the hub between the wheel studs until it comes loose. Next time I'll spray it down and let it soak for a bit
I wanted to take the rear drums off the check the shoes, but for the life of me I couldn't get them off on either side. I've taken them off once before, around 50,000 miles on the clock, and beat them with a mallet and wiggled them off, but this time no go. FWIW there's no threaded hole to force a bolt in against the hub.
Is there somoe other thing I'm overlooking or a special tool?
Thanks,
Brian
EDIT: Coloradofans.com says there's no fancy tool or method. Just have to hit the drum with a hammer around the hub between the wheel studs until it comes loose. Next time I'll spray it down and let it soak for a bit
Last edited by Cobra4B; 11-08-2010 at 10:46 AM.
11-07-2010, 03:31 PM
#6
Fanboi
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Re: How do you get a brake drum off?
There were two ovoid hard rubber plugs on the back side, but one was at the outer edge which looked to be for inpsectting the shoes/drum w/o taking it apart and the other one was toward the center and my inspection mirror showed the adjuster mechanism. There were no other access locations and nothing that I could get anything in and beat on it from the back side.
I guess next time I'll soak the hub with PB blaster... I think it's the inner diameter of the drum fused on the hub.
I guess next time I'll soak the hub with PB blaster... I think it's the inner diameter of the drum fused on the hub.
11-07-2010, 04:51 PM
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SPARKLEmotion
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Re: How do you get a brake drum off?
I normally soak the drum holes around the studs and hub with WD-40, wait a bit, then go for a "baby sledge" + a pry bar to direct the force right at the back edge of the drum. Gradually put more "ass" behind your blows and always move to different spots on the drum. Seems to work well for me.
A dust mask would be a good idea also.
A dust mask would be a good idea also.
