Posted by Gordon Maney on Thursday, July 31, 2003 at 9:51PM :
In Reply to: Brake Drum Removal posted by Andy on Thursday, July 31, 2003 at 8:30PM :
Make sure the shoes do not catch on the drum as it is coming off. Use the upper adjusting cams to move the shoes in if they do catch. This can happen with a very worn drum on a brake that has had the shoes adjusted in an attempt to compensate for the worn drums.
I do not like to use pullers on drums. It is too easy to damage something. You have no feel for why it is not moving. For example, if the shoes are catching, you might not realize that until you broke some parts or bent the shoe webs in the brake.
If you use the puller bolt holes, realize that if it is too stuck, you can pull the threads out of the holes before you move the drum. You can try the puller bolts, but be realistic about their capability. Shock the drum, use a heavy hammer to strike the drum. Rust is your enemy here.
Consider where the shoe rubs in the drum, now put your hand on the outside of the drum... the outer surface of that material that the shoe rubs against. There is an edge to the drum? friction surface, near the backing plate. You will not hit it there. Hit it on the near side of that band of cast iron that the shoe?s curved lining surface rubs against. Strike it very near the corner, applying a driving force in a line that is effectively a radius of the drum, and straight through the near face of the drum, directed to the center. Don?t be afraid to hit it hard.
Put the hammer down, try wiggling the drum with your hands. Keep tension on it with your puller bolts. I can?t remember the size and my trucks are outside and I don?t want to walk past the dog because I have not fed him yet, but they are either 3/8 or 5/16 UNC.... Clean the holes out good, put penetrating oil in them.
You could have a bit of a fight ahead of you.
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