Stubborn rear drums - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Ratpin · 01-02-2015, 10:12 PM

Are these rear drums on my '59 supposed to just come off over the wheels studs or am I missing something? I have been hammering at them from the back side hoping they pop off but no luck so far. Does that middle piece with the two holes hold it on there?

dwcsr · 01-02-2015, 10:21 PM

The yellow holes are for machining the axle during manufacturing.

Take a propane torch and heat where the red lines are, get it fairly hot and then try tapping the drum off. It helps to have the shoe backed off completely

Highsider · 01-02-2015, 10:59 PM

Release the e-brake.

Daze57 · 01-03-2015, 12:52 AM

good idea ^

**joedoh** · 01-03-2015, 02:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Highsider

Release the e-brake.

haha I have done this on a 72 2002tii. embarrassing.

pobodys nerfect!

Ratpin · 01-03-2015, 02:50 AM

The axle is off of the frame and they spin freely. I'll torch them tomorrow. Thanks for the tip.

OrrieG · 01-03-2015, 03:19 PM

I had one that I worked off and on with for a couple or months. Ended up spot welding the puller arm to the drum and applying lots of PB blaster, pressure and heat. Every time I walked by it I would wack the axle with a 4# hammer. One day I went out and it had popped off. Took a grinder to the inside of drum before replacing. I did not heat them red, did not want to warp the drum.

Russell Ashley · 01-03-2015, 04:58 PM

Hitting it with a hammer between the lugs will sometimes help to loosen it up. Obviously don't hit the lugs and you don't need a sledge hammer. Also, if the drum will come out some but wants to pop back in you probably have a ridge on the outer edge of the drum contact surface. Adjust the shoes in to fix that.

Don't pinch your finger tips between the backing plate and drum when you finally get it moving and start to work it off the lugs.

**mr48chev** · 01-03-2015, 09:32 PM

If you have a cup brush for your grinder cleaning all of that paint and rust off the axle hub that the drum slips over won't hurt either plus a good shot of PB before bedtime and hit it again tomorrow.

Heat and a big hammer are usually what get stuck drums off though. I fought a lot of them in the years I was doing brake jobs on a daily basis and never loss the battle but a couple of drums didn't survive the fight they put up.

franken · 01-04-2015, 12:37 AM

I'd wonder if the drum is rusted to the axle flange (weak connection) or the shoes are glued to the drum.
Chances are it's the latter.
Maybe shoot penetrating oil (not wd40) in the drum and bash the front and back?
You can also grind or drill out the pins...

mikec4193 · 01-04-2015, 05:16 PM

I hammered on my 1952/53 farm truck for 3 or 4 nights...I even put heat to it....I got one side off the rearend...then I hammered so hard on the other rear drum I cracked it...the spring on the shoes that holds them together on the top broke and that let the shoes layed in the groove...so I could get the drum to turn but it would not back off...so finally after most of a week banging this thing...I cut the u bolts and rolled it (original rear end)outside...

The front drums went along the same as the rear....so after almost 3 nights of hammering myself stupid...I did this...

I was so gonna try and keep all the original brake stuff attached...only took me 2 weeks of bangin on old rusty crap to smarten up...I am looking for some 1/2 ton spindles for the front axle and then we will do a disc brake kit and then for the back I was given a 1985 K5 Blazer rear end...that is all roughed in with 1990's Chevy truck rear springs...

Cut them off....swap in something you can get parts for...

Good luck...

MikeC

Ratpin · 01-04-2015, 06:05 PM

Heated it up as suggested along with plenty of hammering and I was able to get them off. Thanks

**mr48chev** · 01-04-2015, 06:59 PM

Progress, with just a little hot wrench help.

1958Warrior · 01-04-2015, 09:34 PM

I wouldn't worry too much about damaging the drum , chances of it being resufaceable, to within tolerance are slim.
New drums can be had at all the auto parts stores 4 about $30 ea. I know their not free , but sometimes when you win the battle you still lose.
+swinging the BFH will relieve stress, swing fast and hard (with safety glasses of course) good luck.

01-02-2015, 10:12 PM	#1
Ratpin Registered User Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 275	Stubborn rear drums Are these rear drums on my '59 supposed to just come off over the wheels studs or am I missing something? I have been hammering at them from the back side hoping they pop off but no luck so far. Does that middle piece with the two holes hold it on there? __________________ *"It ain't as easy as Chip Foose makes it look"*

01-02-2015, 10:21 PM	#2
dwcsr Hollister Road Co. Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Houston Posts: 6,131	Re: Stubborn rear drums The yellow holes are for machining the axle during manufacturing. Take a propane torch and heat where the red lines are, get it fairly hot and then try tapping the drum off. It helps to have the shoe backed off completely Attached Images

01-02-2015, 10:59 PM	#3
Highsider Registered User Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Southern Iowa Posts: 944	Re: Stubborn rear drums Release the e-brake. __________________ Jimi J from I-Oh-Way '57 Panel 3105 Met this deer... Roof Swap on my Panel Jim's Bread Truck

01-03-2015, 12:52 AM	#4
Daze57 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Las Vegas - Nev. aka Sin City Posts: 1,835	Re: Stubborn rear drums good idea ^

01-03-2015, 02:50 AM	#6
Ratpin Registered User Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 275	Re: Stubborn rear drums The axle is off of the frame and they spin freely. I'll torch them tomorrow. Thanks for the tip. __________________ *"It ain't as easy as Chip Foose makes it look"*

01-03-2015, 03:19 PM	#7
OrrieG Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Idaho Posts: 8,800	Re: Stubborn rear drums I had one that I worked off and on with for a couple or months. Ended up spot welding the puller arm to the drum and applying lots of PB blaster, pressure and heat. Every time I walked by it I would wack the axle with a 4# hammer. One day I went out and it had popped off. Took a grinder to the inside of drum before replacing. I did not heat them red, did not want to warp the drum. __________________ 1959 Chevy Short Fleetside w/ 74 4WD drive train (current project) OrrieG Build Thread 1964 Chevelle Malibu w/ 355-350TH (daily driver) Helpful AD and TF Manual Site Old Car Manual Project

01-03-2015, 04:58 PM	#8
Russell Ashley Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lawrenceville, Ga Posts: 2,648	Re: Stubborn rear drums Hitting it with a hammer between the lugs will sometimes help to loosen it up. Obviously don't hit the lugs and you don't need a sledge hammer. Also, if the drum will come out some but wants to pop back in you probably have a ridge on the outer edge of the drum contact surface. Adjust the shoes in to fix that. Don't pinch your finger tips between the backing plate and drum when you finally get it moving and start to work it off the lugs.

01-03-2015, 09:32 PM	#9
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,719	Re: Stubborn rear drums If you have a cup brush for your grinder cleaning all of that paint and rust off the axle hub that the drum slips over won't hurt either plus a good shot of PB before bedtime and hit it again tomorrow. Heat and a big hammer are usually what get stuck drums off though. I fought a lot of them in the years I was doing brake jobs on a daily basis and never loss the battle but a couple of drums didn't survive the fight they put up. __________________ Founding member of the too many projects, too little time and money club. My ongoing truck projects: 48 Chev 3100 that will run a 292 Six. 71 GMC 2500 that is getting a Cad 500 transplant. 77 C 30 dualie, 454, 4 speed with a 10 foot flatbed and hoist. It does the heavy work and hauls the projects around.

01-04-2015, 12:37 AM	#10
franken Registered User Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Somewhere Posts: 3,128	Re: Stubborn rear drums I'd wonder if the drum is rusted to the axle flange (weak connection) or the shoes are glued to the drum. Chances are it's the latter. Maybe shoot penetrating oil (not wd40) in the drum and bash the front and back? You can also grind or drill out the pins...

01-04-2015, 05:16 PM	#11
mikec4193 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Mechanicville NY (upstate) Posts: 191	Re: Stubborn rear drums I hammered on my 1952/53 farm truck for 3 or 4 nights...I even put heat to it....I got one side off the rearend...then I hammered so hard on the other rear drum I cracked it...the spring on the shoes that holds them together on the top broke and that let the shoes layed in the groove...so I could get the drum to turn but it would not back off...so finally after most of a week banging this thing...I cut the u bolts and rolled it (original rear end)outside... The front drums went along the same as the rear....so after almost 3 nights of hammering myself stupid...I did this... I was so gonna try and keep all the original brake stuff attached...only took me 2 weeks of bangin on old rusty crap to smarten up...I am looking for some 1/2 ton spindles for the front axle and then we will do a disc brake kit and then for the back I was given a 1985 K5 Blazer rear end...that is all roughed in with 1990's Chevy truck rear springs... Cut them off....swap in something you can get parts for... Good luck... MikeC

01-04-2015, 06:05 PM	#12
Ratpin Registered User Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 275	Re: Stubborn rear drums Heated it up as suggested along with plenty of hammering and I was able to get them off. Thanks __________________ *"It ain't as easy as Chip Foose makes it look"*

01-04-2015, 06:59 PM	#13
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,719	Re: Stubborn rear drums Progress, with just a little hot wrench help. __________________ Founding member of the too many projects, too little time and money club. My ongoing truck projects: 48 Chev 3100 that will run a 292 Six. 71 GMC 2500 that is getting a Cad 500 transplant. 77 C 30 dualie, 454, 4 speed with a 10 foot flatbed and hoist. It does the heavy work and hauls the projects around.

01-04-2015, 09:34 PM	#14
1958Warrior Registered User Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Mesquite,Tx Posts: 416	Re: Stubborn rear drums I wouldn't worry too much about damaging the drum , chances of it being resufaceable, to within tolerance are slim. New drums can be had at all the auto parts stores 4 about $30 ea. I know their not free , but sometimes when you win the battle you still lose. +swinging the BFH will relieve stress, swing fast and hard (with safety glasses of course) good luck.



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