Left rear brake drum

[aero3113]

Hey guys need some advice on a left rear brake drum for a 50 plymouth. As you know if you read my post about removing my left rear brake drum it is now unuseable. Once I do remove it I have to replace it with a new one. I have an extra right side drum, should I use it on the left side or look for a left drum to use? Does anyone have a left rear brake drum they would like to sell?I would feel better knowing that I am using a left hand drum even though I know its just a differance between left and right hand threads. Would like to get back on the road as soon as possible.

[FiredomeVorhese]

Did you have any interest in converting them to studs?

[aero3113]

Not sure what I want to do. But I do know I want to get it back on the road and go for a nice drive and de-stress.

[FiredomeVorhese]

Well for the price of a new drum ($200 on Ebay), you could convert all 4 drums to studs at a machinist. Then you can use regular lug nuts or even decorative lugs.

[Jim Yergin]

If nothing else you could use the right hand drum until you found a left. Gets you back on the road sooner and would give you a chance to look forward to once again having to remove that drum (forgive my poor attempt at making light of your predicament).

Sorry I don't have an extra left.

Jim Yergin

[aero3113]

Jim don't worry, I did get a little chuckle out of that . I was able to drill out the rivets and remove the drum (wasn't as hard as I thought) took about 45 minutes. I am going to try and bend back the hub with a sledge and try the puller one more time. I will let some aero Kroil soak over night on both sides of the hub then heat the hub on both sides. I am happy to see that the axle is not bent. If you guys have any more input I am all ears.

Here is a pick of how bent the hub is

Edited April 8, 2011 by aero3113

[1949P17BC]

Heat it up!!!!

[mikesinky]

put the puller on heat both sides will come off easy. use never seize when reinstalling new hub wont be near as hard next time.

[aero3113]

I have to re tap some of the bolt holes to the next size up. And use a bigger bolt and try the puller.

[Normspeed]

Aero, sorry to hear that your drum removal went so bad. I've broken hub pullers but no drums...yet. If you are not in the mood to tap the holes, you could drill them out a bit and get three grade 8 bolts, nuts and washers that will slip in the holes. I think there would be room behind the hub for the washers and nuts. Also, it was probably already covered, but when you install the puller, snug down all three bolts nice and snug.

[aero3113]

That's a great idea Norm. I wont have to worry about the bolts pulling out now just the puller breaking, LoL. The way things have been going I should not joke about that

[aero3113]

wayfarerstranger is going to be sending me a left rear drum with bolts. So things are starting to look good Now just have to worry about getting the hub off.

[aero3113]

Well I just finished jumping up and down and running around in circles in the garage (No joke). The hub is OFF!!!!!! :D:D:D. I borrowed a air compressor and some air tools from a friend. I tightened down the puller this time using grade 8 bolts nuts and washers. I used a long breaker bar to tighten the puller had to loosen it a few times to tighten the bolts. I heated the hub alot and tried using a air hammer on the hub while the puller was tight and it did nothing. Used a impact gun on the puller to get it as tight as possible and banged on the side of the hub and nothing happened. I was just about to give up and decided to try the sledge on the puller one more time. I banged on it about ten times each time harder and harder letting all of my frustration out on it. On the last hit BANG! It took me a little bit to realize that the hub popped off and not one of the bolts breaking. Here are some pics of the hub off you can see that I even bent the grade 8 bolts also look at the corrosion on the inside of the hub and on the spindle.

Edited April 8, 2011 by aero3113

[1949P17BC]

Aftrer all that excitement its time for a smoke

[RobertKB]

Yeah! Perseverance pays off and you have lots. I have followed the thread with interest.

[Normspeed]

Yeah! Way to go!.

[Jim Saraceno]

Congratulations! I've read a lot of horror stories on this forum about trying to get drums off, but yours is right up there at the top of them all.

All well that ends well:)

[aero3113]

Now I am wondering if I should try to take the right side off to inspect

[Niel Hoback]

Of course you should o for it. You've got experience. You don't want to spend the next few years worrying about whats on the right side.

Do it.

Now.

Go on, get out there.

[aero3113]

When I removed the brake drum I only adjusted the minor brake adjustment. When I put the drum back on I adjust the minor adjustment till the pad hits the drum and back off till it no longer makes contact. Is that correct? I would like to do this to all of the brakes to compensate for wear.

[Andydodge]

Just think what a fine time we'd all be having if mother mopar had installed the engine water tubes using the tapered axle principle..........lol........what a combination.......lol.........yep, I'd do as suggested.....attack the other brake drum now that you have positive vibes working for you.........lol........good luck!.......andyd

[kfxinsd007]

Way to go - mine looked the same - Not all that much work though.

Congrats

Smokem if you gotem

[aero3113]

I don't think the right side should give me as much of a problem since I did have it off about a year ago. I will get at it once I fully recover from the left side.