Removing a stubborn rear drum

[69SCSS]

I'm trying to remove the passenger side drum from my truck and so far I have tried everything, heat, sledge, prying, etc. It seems to be rusted to the axle. I can pry the drum out a little but it only moves around the studs and not at the flange. I'm thinking of just pulling the axle and hitting it from the other side.
Thoughts? I don't want to screw up the bearing any more than I probably already did, and I think taking a cutting wheel might damage the axle.

[Cash3481]

Originally Posted by 69SCSS

I'm trying to remove the passenger side drum from my truck and so far I have tried everything, heat, sledge, prying, etc. It seems to be rusted to the axle. I can pry the drum out a little but it only moves around the studs and not at the flange. I'm thinking of just pulling the axle and hitting it from the other side.
Thoughts? I don't want to screw up the bearing any more than I probably already did, and I think taking a cutting wheel might damage the axle.

69SCSS:
I had the same issue.
I used heat then pb blaster alternating. Spray it around the studs and center of the brake drum. Spin it over and let it sit between attempts. Then try the BFH, just don't get carried away. It took me 8-10 try's over 2 days but I won the battle. It was seized at the hub protrusion on the drum and the middle of the rotor contact surface.
BTW... I watched one of the power block shows beat it with a hammer until it split the drum last weekend. He hit the corner of the drum with the BFH.
Don't forget to try and back off the brake springs too.
Hope you get it.
Mike
Posted via Mobile Device

[SS Tim]

To clarify you are talking about a rear drum on a C10 semi-floating axle. From the sound of things it sounds like you are sure the shoes are not holding it via a grooved drum. Might try backing off the adjusters it you are not sure. If its stuck tight only at the axle flange soaking some PB Blaster into the flange drum joint and at the stud holes along with a little heat should loosen the drum up.

[69SCSS]

yea the drum isn't binding at all. it spins pretty free. I can pry the drum edge gently away from the backing plate with no trouble, but I can't get the middle to let go.

Yea I'll try that some more this weekend. if all else fails, I'll pull the axle, hell I have to replace the fluid anyways. Gimme a chance to check the bearings anyway, right?

[b.eddy's72]

Grind the heads of the brake shoe pins on the backside of the backing plate. That should release the whole brake system and just pull it all off. Had to do that on a car one time. The pins are cheap in a hardware kit.

[midniteblues]

run a stiff wire wheel around the center locateing hub use some rust bust spray or try the acetone atf mix(it works awesome)

let it sit for a while then spin it while banging it off

if you have some bar clamps laying around 2 of them with a proper sized length of wood help to pull the drum off a lil' difficult to do with only 2 hands though

[Longhorn 70]

I just completed the front drum to disc brakes on my old beater.

Tim may be on to something. My drums weren't binding on the shoes but they had worn the drum down to the point there was a .060" lip around the edge of the drum. The self-adjusters did what they were supposed to do and spread the shoes enough to keep the drum on. The drum would go to the edge and no further......Flipped the starwheel about 20 clicks and they came right off.

I'm so glad there are discs up there now.

Good luck buddy. Let us know what you find.

[69SCSS]

Got it!!!!

I was going to cut the drum and get something in there and pry it loose. Well, I noticed there are 2 cutouts in the drum just big enough to get a small screwdriver in. I have some old screwdrivers I didn't care about so I thought what the hell? So I tapped it in and it moved! So, I spun it around and did it again. That one moved a little. So I kept the screwdrivers in each and just pried on them back and forth... then a POP! All off the sudden it was free. Pulled the drum off to find... RUST! (And spider webs ) The whole inside of the drum was orange with rust. You can't see from the pics that well, but the whole thing was brown / orange.

So now to clean it up, put all the new parts on, and slap the drum on and call it good. I have all new parts... shoes, wheels cylinders, hardware, hose etc. None of the rust gets to stay. One less hurdle.

[WIDESIDE72]

Brake drum puller pops stuck rear drum - YouTube

I love the crocs and expert use of the claw hammer. Vehicle also appears to be on the verge of falling off whatever "Stand" its on...

[WIDESIDE72]

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...80/N0675.oap?c..

http://www.wayfairsupply.com/Fowler-...FU-mPAodFyUAPQ

[WIDESIDE72]

HOW TO REMOVE A STUCK BRAKE DRUM WITH A SLEDGE...

[Davemotohead]

I get the rusty Drums off with one swing!

[69SCSS]

Originally Posted by Davemotohead

I get the rusty Drums off with one swing!