Drums are stuck, what do I do? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Dick Dale · 05-25-2005, 11:29 PM

What is the best way to get the back drums off? The right rear tire and wheel will not come off either. I am replacing all the brakes and am stuck at this point. I cannot take it anywhere because the engine is out. What do I do? That drum will move on the sides but seems to be stuck on the back axle.

pissonNOS · 05-25-2005, 11:35 PM

hit in the center of the axle with a hammer hopefulyl it will loosen, or take the torch to it and heat around the the axle, should pop right off

hgs_notes · 05-25-2005, 11:44 PM

As another former squid, I'll try to help.

If you can pull the drum and it moves on the studs, then it is just the brake pads holding in the wear groove inside the drum. In that case, use a screw driver to back off on the adjustment. There is a small slotted hole on the brake backing plate, look at it from the differential side, near the bottom. It might have a rubber plug in it. If you can't seem to get the brakes loosened that way, just use a bar and some back/leg strength and pull hard. It will probably just wreck the spring retainers, but your replacing the brakes anyway.

If the drum is rusted to the axle plate and won't move on the studs at all, then spray with WD-40 or equivalent and just keep trying to work it loose. Maybe tap the center hub using a brass bar and a hammer, dont want to break it you know with direct hammer hits. If you have a propane torch, you can heat the drum and pull hard.

Once you get them off, and frustration will increase the strength of your blows causing them to loosen, you might as well do the wheel cylinders as well.

Best of luck,

HG

pissonNOS · 05-25-2005, 11:49 PM

also once there off take the diegrinder to the centers and the put some antisieze in there then reinstall , also i use direct hammers hits all the time and havent broken anything but maybe ive just been lucky

Longhorn Man · 05-26-2005, 12:28 AM

You can damage the drum, but not likely onless you get stupid with the hammer. we do this all the time on everything from escorts to Peterbuilts at work. I've personally only messed up 3 or 4 drums in 3 years...and they needed replaced anyways.
Plus, the drums for our truck (asuming 1/2 ton 2 wheel drive) are only 25 or so bucks anyways.

Dick Dale · 05-26-2005, 10:55 AM

I am replacing the drums anyways so I need them off. I will try all this and let you know what happens. How about pulling a seized tire? I can't even get the tire off the passenger side let alone the drum.

pissonNOS · 05-26-2005, 02:32 PM

try kicking the tire on the top then the bottom it should loosen up

67ChevyRedneck · 05-26-2005, 02:58 PM

I had the same problem on my camaro. I laid on my back and kicked the **** out of the tire cause the car had nice aluminum rims on it. After about 20 hits it came off. Make sure you are using good jack stands and there is no one else around the vehicle.

Primered_69 · 05-26-2005, 03:34 PM

I had one that would not come off no matter what until I rednecked it. Take a sissor jack and put between wheel/tire and frame and then just jack it up until it pops off. It worked for me when everything else would not.

Dick Dale · 05-26-2005, 03:38 PM

I've already done the kick the crap out of it but I will try that again. If not redneck scissor jack it is.

Green Machine · 05-26-2005, 08:17 PM

I had to do the jack thing to a tire also. Just keep some lugs nuts installed loosely on the studs because that wheel/tire could spring off and hurt something !!!

86SILVERADO · 05-26-2005, 09:05 PM

In order to back the adjusting wheel off you actually need to push the lever off the wheel. get a flashlight and find the little sprocket looking wheel inside that hole in the backing plate. I use a long thin allen wrench to push the lever off the wheel. If you slide it in on the topside of the wheel you should feel it contact the lever and you can feel resistance against the wrench as you push the spring loaded lever off the wheel then while you hold the allen wrench you use a thin flathead screwdriver to push the teeth on the wheel downwards. The best way is to angle the screwdriver upwards and grab one of the high teeth on the wheel, rest the shaft of the screwdriver against the top of the access hole and use that for leverage to pry the wheel downwards. If the drums are really worn it takes a long time to retract the adjuster enough to get them off so you just have to be patient and keep at it.

Dick Dale · 05-26-2005, 10:19 PM

I used a bottle jack on the wheel and wheel came off finally. The thing popped off so hard it made my ears ring. Drum came right off that side. The other drum is still stuck and I don't know if it O.K to do the same thing to that one. Can I bend the axle doing that with the drum?

71swb4x4 · 05-27-2005, 12:50 AM

I had the same problem with aluminum wheels on my Camaro. I popped the differential cover and pulled the axle pin, pushed the wheel in and pulled the axle clip, and then pulled the whole wheel/drum/axle out as one piece. Sure made it easy to remove then

05-25-2005, 11:29 PM	#1
Dick Dale Excelsior, You Fathead. Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Valparaiso, In Posts: 937	Drums are stuck, what do I do? What is the best way to get the back drums off? The right rear tire and wheel will not come off either. I am replacing all the brakes and am stuck at this point. I cannot take it anywhere because the engine is out. What do I do? That drum will move on the sides but seems to be stuck on the back axle. __________________ Go Navy. The Sea Is Ours. Budget 350 Build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...38#post2264638

05-25-2005, 11:35 PM	#2
pissonNOS senior member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: fort macleod alberta Posts: 2,770	hit in the center of the axle with a hammer hopefulyl it will loosen, or take the torch to it and heat around the the axle, should pop right off __________________ 69 GMC bagged

05-25-2005, 11:44 PM	#3
hgs_notes GEARHEAD Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: MN Posts: 6,126	As another former squid, I'll try to help. If you can pull the drum and it moves on the studs, then it is just the brake pads holding in the wear groove inside the drum. In that case, use a screw driver to back off on the adjustment. There is a small slotted hole on the brake backing plate, look at it from the differential side, near the bottom. It might have a rubber plug in it. If you can't seem to get the brakes loosened that way, just use a bar and some back/leg strength and pull hard. It will probably just wreck the spring retainers, but your replacing the brakes anyway. If the drum is rusted to the axle plate and won't move on the studs at all, then spray with WD-40 or equivalent and just keep trying to work it loose. Maybe tap the center hub using a brass bar and a hammer, dont want to break it you know with direct hammer hits. If you have a propane torch, you can heat the drum and pull hard. Once you get them off, and frustration will increase the strength of your blows causing them to loosen, you might as well do the wheel cylinders as well. Best of luck, HG __________________ If no one knows what you're doing, they can't tell you you're doing it wrong HG's Dream Car Build - Shelby Cobra Kit Build your own adjustable track bar 71 Long Fleet C/10 72 Jimmy 4x4 (Junkyard Jimmy) HG's Plow Truck '78 K35 Dually Bigass Farm Truck HG's thread of miscellaneous stuff

05-25-2005, 11:49 PM	#4
pissonNOS senior member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: fort macleod alberta Posts: 2,770	also once there off take the diegrinder to the centers and the put some antisieze in there then reinstall , also i use direct hammers hits all the time and havent broken anything but maybe ive just been lucky __________________ 69 GMC bagged

05-26-2005, 10:55 AM	#6
Dick Dale Excelsior, You Fathead. Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Valparaiso, In Posts: 937	I am replacing the drums anyways so I need them off. I will try all this and let you know what happens. How about pulling a seized tire? I can't even get the tire off the passenger side let alone the drum. __________________ Go Navy. The Sea Is Ours. Budget 350 Build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...38#post2264638

05-26-2005, 12:28 AM	#5
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	You can damage the drum, but not likely onless you get stupid with the hammer. we do this all the time on everything from escorts to Peterbuilts at work. I've personally only messed up 3 or 4 drums in 3 years...and they needed replaced anyways. Plus, the drums for our truck (asuming 1/2 ton 2 wheel drive) are only 25 or so bucks anyways.

05-26-2005, 02:32 PM	#7
pissonNOS senior member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: fort macleod alberta Posts: 2,770	try kicking the tire on the top then the bottom it should loosen up __________________ 69 GMC bagged

05-26-2005, 02:58 PM	#8
67ChevyRedneck Hittin E-Z Street on Mud Tires Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 23,090	I had the same problem on my camaro. I laid on my back and kicked the **** out of the tire cause the car had nice aluminum rims on it. After about 20 hits it came off. Make sure you are using good jack stands and there is no one else around the vehicle. __________________ Jesse James 1967 C10 SWB Stepside: 350/700R4/3.73 1965 Ford Mustang: 289/T5-5spd/3.25 Trac-Loc 1968 Pontiac Firebird: Project Fire Chicken! 2015 Silverado Double Cab 5.3L Z71 2001 Jeep Wrangler Sport 4.0L 5spd 2020 Chevrolet Equinox Premium 2.0L Turbo 2011 Mustang V6 ~ Wife's ride American Born, Country by the Grace of God 1967 CST Shop Truck Rebuild! My 1967 C-10 Build Thread My Vintage Air A/C Install Project "On a Dime" Trying my hand at Home Renovation! 1965 Mustang Modifications!

05-26-2005, 03:34 PM	#9
Primered_69 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Fort Worth Posts: 1,409	I had one that would not come off no matter what until I rednecked it. Take a sissor jack and put between wheel/tire and frame and then just jack it up until it pops off. It worked for me when everything else would not. __________________ 1969 Chevy LWB - with shaved handles; 3 1/2 front/ 5 1/2 rear drop; (waiting to be put back together)

05-26-2005, 03:38 PM	#10
Dick Dale Excelsior, You Fathead. Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Valparaiso, In Posts: 937	I've already done the kick the crap out of it but I will try that again. If not redneck scissor jack it is. __________________ Go Navy. The Sea Is Ours. Budget 350 Build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...38#post2264638

05-26-2005, 08:17 PM	#11
Green Machine Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Estherville, Iowa Posts: 3,371	I had to do the jack thing to a tire also. Just keep some lugs nuts installed loosely on the studs because that wheel/tire could spring off and hurt something !!! __________________ 1968 C10 307 3spd Long Fleet ------ http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=201103 1970 C10 305 Super T10 Long Fleet --- http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=202285 1971 C20 383 TH350 Dana Posi ----- http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=206894 2001 GMC Sierra 1500 C3 6.0

05-26-2005, 09:05 PM	#12
86SILVERADO Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Hills of Western Mass Posts: 626	In order to back the adjusting wheel off you actually need to push the lever off the wheel. get a flashlight and find the little sprocket looking wheel inside that hole in the backing plate. I use a long thin allen wrench to push the lever off the wheel. If you slide it in on the topside of the wheel you should feel it contact the lever and you can feel resistance against the wrench as you push the spring loaded lever off the wheel then while you hold the allen wrench you use a thin flathead screwdriver to push the teeth on the wheel downwards. The best way is to angle the screwdriver upwards and grab one of the high teeth on the wheel, rest the shaft of the screwdriver against the top of the access hole and use that for leverage to pry the wheel downwards. If the drums are really worn it takes a long time to retract the adjuster enough to get them off so you just have to be patient and keep at it. __________________ 86 Silverado C10 back to 305 power! 67 C30 Dually Dump, with 350 transplant, Rockhauler 05 Duramax 3500 "If at first you don't succeed, try a bigger hammer" Member of the 1-Ton club!

05-26-2005, 10:19 PM	#13
Dick Dale Excelsior, You Fathead. Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Valparaiso, In Posts: 937	I used a bottle jack on the wheel and wheel came off finally. The thing popped off so hard it made my ears ring. Drum came right off that side. The other drum is still stuck and I don't know if it O.K to do the same thing to that one. Can I bend the axle doing that with the drum? __________________ Go Navy. The Sea Is Ours. Budget 350 Build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...38#post2264638

05-27-2005, 12:50 AM	#14
71swb4x4 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Brookings, SD Posts: 10,497	I had the same problem with aluminum wheels on my Camaro. I popped the differential cover and pulled the axle pin, pushed the wheel in and pulled the axle clip, and then pulled the whole wheel/drum/axle out as one piece. Sure made it easy to remove then __________________ Some people are like slinkies, they aren't good for anything, but you can't help but smile when you see one tumble down the stairs.



Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.