Rear Brake Drum

[aero3113]

My left rear brake drum will not come off. I have a BFH and a drum puller. I have pounded as far as I can go. I left the nut on the axle incase the drum pops off. Should I leave the puller on over night and maybe it will work its way off?Any suggestions?

[1949P17BC]

Well, there are a few steps you can try.

1. When you think you have hit it pretty, smak even harder the next time.

2. Run a bar thru the puller arms so that the drum does not move when you hit it

3, If step 1 & 2 dont work add heat

4. They now have new torch tips at Lowes that will increase more heat. Buy one of those, new bottle of propane, heat the hub around the axle, add a little wd 40 every once in a while, watch for flames, keep heating and pounding

Good Luck

[aero3113]

can I keep the car in gear to keep the drum from spinning?

[1949P17BC]

I would prefer you keep it in neutral and block the drum

[captden29]

aero, whenever i have run into that problem, and we all have who own an old mopar, i give it another whack when i think i have already given it my all. that works 3 out of 4 times. for the one time it does not i remove the puller, reposition it on different lug bolt holes, and start again. i have never used heat as i think that is generally considered bad for the seals. when repositioned it comes off, but again you need to hit it one more time just when you think it can't take anymore. good luck. capt den

[aero3113]

In the tech tips it says that the wheel must spin freely to remove the drum. I know that they are talking about brake drag. Is it ok that I have the e-brake on and the car is jacked so the left rear wheel is off the ground and the right rear tire is on the ground. Should both rear wheels be off the ground or does that not matter?

[greg g]

Some one on another board mentioned whacking the end of the threaded sectioin that goes against the axle as alot of times the extra shock will help pop it.

[aero3113]

I tried that, no good. I took the e-brake off and now noticed that the left rear drum brake is dragging . It should spin freely even though the right wheel is on the ground right. Do I need to adjust the minor brake adjustment to get the drum off? where on the back plate is the minor adjustment and if I do need to adjust it how much and what way do I turn them?

Edited September 30, 2009 by aero3113

[JIPJOBXX]

Just turn it till the rear wheel spins easily. Is the car drivable? You might try just putting the axel nut back on with the washer but not tight and drive it for a few minutes and may be it will pop then.

[aero3113]

I think I found my problem. My puller was off a little bit causing the drum to get cocked just a little bit. I adjusted the "minor" adjustment and now the wheel spins freely but I can see the drum wobble a little. I will let it sit over night and maybe it will pop off. If not I will reposition the puller to different holes and try again tomorrow. Too late in the night to start using the BFH .

[aero3113]

Still no luck. I am now not sure if my drum is cocked or it just might be how it is cast. I used Aero kroil and heat now with the same results. I am starting to get frustrated and don't know what else to do. Am I missing anything? Only other thing I can think of is a bigger BFH.

Edited September 30, 2009 by aero3113

[JIPJOBXX]

If you can rent a button jack like the one in the middle on the bottom then you should be able to put on enough pressure to pop that drum. Just use your puller for the strong back and then apply pressure on the hydraulic jack. When you have pressure on it then try to just hit the outside of the drum and it should pop of the tapered shaft that the drum is stuck on. Jon

[aero3113]

If I did that do you think it would just jack up the car?

[aero3113]

I was able to use a floor jack to keep pressure on the puller and used alot more heat,banged some more and still nothing:mad:.

[JIPJOBXX]

No you just put the button head inbetween the axle shaft and the puller. Those button jacks usually will put out a force of more that 2 tons and if that doesn't get it to move than I do not know what will. Just make sure you have the axel nut loosen a few thread back oft the drum.

[aero3113]

AHHHH I see that's a good idea if I can find one. Still gonna try a bigger BFH when I get one.

Edited September 30, 2009 by aero3113

[FiredomeVorhese]

I had the same problems and posted on the HAMB, lotsa advice in this thread

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=397345

[Normspeed]

I just pulled my rear drums for inspection, and to keep the drums from turning when I hammered on the puller i had someone step hard on the brakes. When the drums pop you will know by the sound. After that, have the assistant release the brakes and slide the drum off.

I use a 3 1/2 lb sledge. As others have said, beat it til you don't dare beat it any harder. Then, beat it harder. If you use heat, try keeping the heat more on the drum center and not on the end of the axle.

[aero3113]

That was a good thread Firedome thanks. I am going to let it sit under tension for a couple days and add aerokroil and pound it every once in a while.Hopefully the areokroil will do its job.

[RobertKB]

I have never had the difficulty you have pulling your drums. I have pulled drums off cars that have sat on the ground for 30+ years with no trouble. One trick you might use, but is not recommended by everyone, is to pound on the centre of the drum puller so the force goes directly onto the axle and the shock can separate the axle from the drum which is being pulled in the opposite direction. Tighten the drum puller more each time you do this. Some people claim this can damage axle bearings but I have never had a problem. Make sure the nut is right on the end of the axle so you do not mushroom the axle end. I use an average to large size ball peen hammer and it works every time. I have never used a sledge of any kind.

Edited October 1, 2009 by RobertKB

[JIPJOBXX]

Now back when I worked for the Navy we ust to sometimes use explosises to blow oft the propeller the shaft. But I think that may not be in order here Jon

[aero3113]

That may be my only choice,LoL.Today I added some more heat and more pounding and still nothing. I am using a 3 lb sledge and a 3 lb dead blow sledge I need to get maybe a six lb sledge to give it the extra punch.

[JIPJOBXX]

Yep a bigger hitter will probably do the trick. Believe it or not when i was a bit younger and tuning the propeller nuts on a submarine we used a 40 lbs hammer boy I still remember that animal.

[Norm's Coupe]

Forget the dead blow hammer. You want that shock of a steel hammer to transfer because it will help break it loose.

[Cpt.Fred]

aero, i cannot say anything helpful but i have been through it all as well, and my drums still sit right where they sat when i got the car. i even managed to brake a hammer AND a puller (don't ask me how).

when i get a new one i'll start again.

we shall overcome:rolleyes:

good luck to you!!!