help with a front brake cylinder mount bolt - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

70Custom10Nut · 01-16-2010, 07:21 PM

I'm changing out the brake cylinders (drums all around) on the front of my truck. Anyone have a tip on how to free up the bolt that secures the front wheel cylinders (also the pivot stud for the shoes)? I went and bought a 1-1/8 socket a breaker bar and they aren't budging. I don't have an impact wrench and don't want to strip them off. Am I doing this right? Does the whole thing come loose? Cnut

cdowns · 01-16-2010, 07:28 PM

on old rusty brakes i've just tightened and snapped off the heads on the cylinder mounts and then used new bolts to mount the cylinders// never had any need to remove a pivot pin so dont know

PanelDeland · 01-16-2010, 07:34 PM

Me neither but if I were to try to remove one the first thing I would do is use a real penetrating oil.PB Blaster,Kroil or equivelent.Contrary to popular belief WD-40 is not a penetrant.The WD stands for water dispersant.Then the breaker bar and socket may budge it or not.

**passthebuck** · 01-16-2010, 07:43 PM

I used a breaker bar, some heat & a little lube. I heated it up for 5 minutes with my propane torch, shot it with spray & put the bar on it... It went "click" & it was loose.

**LockDoc** · 01-16-2010, 07:48 PM

-
I always use heat on stubborn fasteners. Before I got my Acetylene torch I used a Mapp Gas torch with some success. On the bigger stuff it won't produce enough heat though.

LockDoc

70Custom10Nut · 01-16-2010, 07:53 PM

Wow, thanks for the quick replies. The heat thing is a good suggestion. I can get that in the morning. Cnut

Legolas894 · 01-16-2010, 09:00 PM

I had the same problem. I tried the breaker bar and it wouldn't budge. I didn't have a big enough compressor for the impact wrench so I bought a 7.5A electric impact gun. Worked like a charm. Well worth the $40. Works great on wheel nuts etc.

70Custom10Nut · 01-16-2010, 09:41 PM

Tried the torch approach to no avail. In the morning I'm going to the Auto craft shop (one of the perks of the military) I'll be able to use the impact wrench, and hope it works. Thanks again for all the input. Cnut

70Custom10Nut · 01-17-2010, 05:13 PM

Done!

Got the impact wrench on the job and everything went smooth. One little piece of advice though, Buy and replace all the parts needed all at once. Today I had to track down the front brake hoses by driving half way across Columbia. But it's fixed and it's done. It's nice having brakes again

. Thanks to all for the advice. Cnut

Legolas894 · 01-17-2010, 08:48 PM

Glad it worked out. When I got my truck, it had 1 seized cylinder on the front and one on the back. After I replaced all four, two new drums, all new shoes, it was a different stopping experience to say the least. A lot of people on here replace the front drums with disks. It has a gas tank in the cab, manual steering and manual brakes so I don't think the four drum brakes are the biggest issue!

70Custom10Nut · 01-18-2010, 09:27 AM

I seriously considered the front disc option, and for the longest time it was going to be "the next big thing I buy for the truck". But then I looked at the justification. I've only put 8000 miles on her since the power train rebuild in 1999, I only drive her about three days a week, and I don't tow anything. Besides the drums do a pretty good job when I hit the whoa pedal. Maybe some day in the future, but I'm happy with it for now. Cnut

01-16-2010, 07:21 PM	#1
70Custom10Nut Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Vilseck Germany (currently) Posts: 317	help with a front brake cylinder mount bolt I'm changing out the brake cylinders (drums all around) on the front of my truck. Anyone have a tip on how to free up the bolt that secures the front wheel cylinders (also the pivot stud for the shoes)? I went and bought a 1-1/8 socket a breaker bar and they aren't budging. I don't have an impact wrench and don't want to strip them off. Am I doing this right? Does the whole thing come loose? Cnut

01-16-2010, 07:28 PM	#2
cdowns Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: daytonabeach Posts: 22,956	Re: help with a front brake cylinder mount bolt on old rusty brakes i've just tightened and snapped off the heads on the cylinder mounts and then used new bolts to mount the cylinders// never had any need to remove a pivot pin so dont know __________________ 71c-10 350/2004r/4:11 lowered3/4 longbed/dead by hurricane MEANING OF DEATH::::: SOMEBODY ELSE GETS YOUR STUFF DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK TAKE MY ADVISE;I DON'T USE IT ANYWAY

01-16-2010, 07:34 PM	#3
PanelDeland I am a Referee of life. Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Greensboro N.C. Posts: 13,993	Re: help with a front brake cylinder mount bolt Me neither but if I were to try to remove one the first thing I would do is use a real penetrating oil.PB Blaster,Kroil or equivelent.Contrary to popular belief WD-40 is not a penetrant.The WD stands for water dispersant.Then the breaker bar and socket may budge it or not. __________________ The 47-present Chevrolet and GMC Truck Message Board Network,it's owners,moderators,members,and associates of any type should not be held responsible for my opinion. You can't fix stupid,not even with duct tape. "My appearance is due to the fact that "GOD" does punish you for having too much fun!" Barrett-Jackson has perfected alchemy,they make rust into gold! "You can lead a horse to water but you can't saddle a duck" "Cleverly disguised as a 'Responsible Adult' "Sometimes your Knight in shining armor is just a retard in tinfoil"

01-16-2010, 07:43 PM	#4
passthebuck Sisyphus was my mentor! Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Carleton Place, Ontario CANADA Posts: 984	Re: help with a front brake cylinder mount bolt I used a breaker bar, some heat & a little lube. I heated it up for 5 minutes with my propane torch, shot it with spray & put the bar on it... It went "click" & it was loose. __________________ passthebuck #5642 -TWO 1967 GMC 910's. One with L6/3-on-the tree and the other with 355 w/435hp & a 700r4. -a 2013 Honda Civic as my "sensible" car

01-16-2010, 07:48 PM	#5
LockDoc The Older Generation Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Montezuma, Iowa Posts: 25,395	Re: help with a front brake cylinder mount bolt - I always use heat on stubborn fasteners. Before I got my Acetylene torch I used a Mapp Gas torch with some success. On the bigger stuff it won't produce enough heat though. LockDoc __________________ Leon Locksmith, Specializing In Antique Trucks, Automobiles, & Motorcycles (My Dually Pickup Project Thread) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=829820 -

01-16-2010, 07:53 PM	#6
70Custom10Nut Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Vilseck Germany (currently) Posts: 317	Re: help with a front brake cylinder mount bolt Wow, thanks for the quick replies. The heat thing is a good suggestion. I can get that in the morning. Cnut

01-16-2010, 09:00 PM	#7
Legolas894 Chemist under the hood... Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Fort Erie,ON, Canada Posts: 617	Re: help with a front brake cylinder mount bolt I had the same problem. I tried the breaker bar and it wouldn't budge. I didn't have a big enough compressor for the impact wrench so I bought a 7.5A electric impact gun. Worked like a charm. Well worth the $40. Works great on wheel nuts etc. __________________ Current fleet: 2013 GMC Sierra, 5.3L, 4x4 1988 GMC Sierra, 305, Auto 1984 Jeep Grand Wagoneer, 360 V8 1997 VW Cabrio, 2.0L 2017 Toyota Rav4, 2.5L Stuff I wish I still had: 2013 Toyota Matrix [RIP] 1967 GMC 910 Fleetside, 283 V8 [1st Love-SOLD] 1987 Jeep Cherokee Laredo 4X4, 4.0 I-6 [SOLD} 1994 Chevrolet Caprice Classic, 5.7LV8 [SOLD] 1995 Chevrolet Astro AWD, 4.3L V6 (RIP) 1998 Chevrolet Suburban 4x4, 5.7L V8 [SOLD]

01-16-2010, 09:41 PM	#8
70Custom10Nut Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Vilseck Germany (currently) Posts: 317	Re: help with a front brake cylinder mount bolt Tried the torch approach to no avail. In the morning I'm going to the Auto craft shop (one of the perks of the military) I'll be able to use the impact wrench, and hope it works. Thanks again for all the input. Cnut

01-17-2010, 05:13 PM	#9
70Custom10Nut Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Vilseck Germany (currently) Posts: 317	Re: help with a front brake cylinder mount bolt Done! Got the impact wrench on the job and everything went smooth. One little piece of advice though, Buy and replace all the parts needed all at once. Today I had to track down the front brake hoses by driving half way across Columbia. But it's fixed and it's done. It's nice having brakes again. Thanks to all for the advice. Cnut Last edited by 70Custom10Nut; 01-17-2010 at 05:15 PM. Reason: grammer

01-17-2010, 08:48 PM	#10
Legolas894 Chemist under the hood... Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Fort Erie,ON, Canada Posts: 617	Re: help with a front brake cylinder mount bolt Glad it worked out. When I got my truck, it had 1 seized cylinder on the front and one on the back. After I replaced all four, two new drums, all new shoes, it was a different stopping experience to say the least. A lot of people on here replace the front drums with disks. It has a gas tank in the cab, manual steering and manual brakes so I don't think the four drum brakes are the biggest issue! __________________ Current fleet: 2013 GMC Sierra, 5.3L, 4x4 1988 GMC Sierra, 305, Auto 1984 Jeep Grand Wagoneer, 360 V8 1997 VW Cabrio, 2.0L 2017 Toyota Rav4, 2.5L Stuff I wish I still had: 2013 Toyota Matrix [RIP] 1967 GMC 910 Fleetside, 283 V8 [1st Love-SOLD] 1987 Jeep Cherokee Laredo 4X4, 4.0 I-6 [SOLD} 1994 Chevrolet Caprice Classic, 5.7LV8 [SOLD] 1995 Chevrolet Astro AWD, 4.3L V6 (RIP) 1998 Chevrolet Suburban 4x4, 5.7L V8 [SOLD]

01-18-2010, 09:27 AM	#11
70Custom10Nut Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Vilseck Germany (currently) Posts: 317	Re: help with a front brake cylinder mount bolt I seriously considered the front disc option, and for the longest time it was going to be "the next big thing I buy for the truck". But then I looked at the justification. I've only put 8000 miles on her since the power train rebuild in 1999, I only drive her about three days a week, and I don't tow anything. Besides the drums do a pretty good job when I hit the whoa pedal. Maybe some day in the future, but I'm happy with it for now. Cnut



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