without busting the drum ...how to unstick them?

Posted By: toplescuda

without busting the drum ...how to unstick them? - 01/19/12 10:37 PM

I have 3 drums stuck 1 front 2 rear but one possible cause of suregrip?? Cause will turn backwards
the front driver side i took wheel off and pryed the hub all around and it moves ok except the very top
have pulled it on the paved driveway it just slides
took the spindel nut off and can get the bottom to come out bout 1 inch or so but very top wont buldge

Posted By: mod5v

Re: without busting the drum ...how to unstick them? - 01/19/12 11:00 PM

There should be slots in the backing plate to get at the adjuster. you need to back off the ajuster so the brake shoe dosent hang up on the drum.If the correct adjusters are in there u take a adjust tool or flat screwdriver and spin the adjuster up as you are looking at it from the backing plate.

Posted By: 70Cuda383

Re: without busting the drum ...how to unstick them? - 01/19/12 11:17 PM

and if they're rusted to the flange...a little break free like PB blaster, WD40, etc. and a little heat can help.

maybe a slide hammer too if you have the jaws to grab the backside of the drum.

but back off the brake shoes first. they wear into the drum leaving a lip on the outside of it, which is why we turn the drums on brake jobs. as the self adjusters click "out" the shoe expands into the lip. gotta get the shoes backed off all the way to allow the springs to pull them back in, away from that lip.

worse comes to worse, just yank them off if you plan on replacing the brake stuff anyway...

Murphy: if it jams, force it. if it breaks...it needed replacing anyway!

Posted By: toplescuda

Re: without busting the drum ...how to unstick them? - 01/19/12 11:22 PM

I sprayed pb blaster all in it cant get the adjuster to turn
beat on it with hammer all kinds of rust fell dowthe drums are 11x3 all the way around do they make a 11x3 drum for front of 70 barracuda?

Posted By: 70Coronet500Vert

Re: without busting the drum ...how to unstick them? - 01/19/12 11:29 PM

we've removed them with a 3lb sledge. It is really hard ot hurt a drum.

If you snip the haed off the pins in the back, they will come off as an asembly

Posted By: toplescuda

Re: without busting the drum ...how to unstick them? - 01/19/12 11:31 PM

The bottom and sides pull out away from the backing plate just not the top center what the heck is at top center to keep it from prying away from backing plate
what if i unbolted the wheel cyl.?

Posted By: Challenger 1

Re: without busting the drum ...how to unstick them? - 01/19/12 11:34 PM

Those things can be tough to get off sometimes. They do make a drum puller which helps a lot.
Big sledge hammer has been used before by me to break them into peices.
I think you should convert to disc brakes up front because front drums are gonna be hard to find I think. I converted my 71 from 4 wheel drum brakes, used spindles from a 73 E body that I used to own.
I do still have the old 11" drums from the front but have never took them apart yet to check them out.
What's crazy is my best new parts guy who I have known for a long time called me recently looking for those front 11" drums for one of his customers, he tells me he can't get them anymore?

Posted By: toplescuda

Re: without busting the drum ...how to unstick them? - 01/19/12 11:50 PM

I dont want to swap to disc as the car is a number matching big block convertable want to keep it stock and save as much orignal stuff as possible

Posted By: Challenger 1

Re: without busting the drum ...how to unstick them? - 01/19/12 11:52 PM

Rent a drum puller?

If there's ridge inside the drum holding it on, than more than likely the drum is shot anyway. Good luck with it.

Posted By: stumpy

Re: without busting the drum ...how to unstick them? - 01/19/12 11:54 PM

With self adjusting brakes you have to use two screwdrivers to back the adjuster off. One to hold the self adjuster lever up away from the adjuter star wheel and another to turn the star wheel.

Posted By: BDW

Re: without busting the drum ...how to unstick them? - 01/19/12 11:57 PM

Quote:

If you snip the haed off the pins in the back, they will come off as an asembly

This is your best bet, once it's away from the backing plate, you can dig out the stuck parts.

Posted By: toplescuda

Re: without busting the drum ...how to unstick them? - 01/20/12 12:23 AM

What is at the very top that could be holding it???with the spindel nut off i can wiggle it up down and bottomand sides in and out from backing plate
the shoes are on the sides so should be nothen top center i can move the hub up 1/4 inch or so
just dont make any sence why sides move unless shoes not atached to backing plate any more from me prying

Posted By: hp383

Re: without busting the drum ...how to unstick them? - 01/20/12 12:30 AM

The shoes are probably still attached, but they are on a spring and pin.

So you can pull them out about an inch, and it is just compressing the pin.

As far as whats holding it at the top, its probably the two heavy springs that keep them pulled in from the drum.

Posted By: Challenger 1

Re: without busting the drum ...how to unstick them? - 01/20/12 12:32 AM

It's the top post that each shoe pushes off of, it's attached to the backing plate.

Posted By: toplescuda

Re: without busting the drum ...how to unstick them? - 01/20/12 12:40 AM

Well least one of the pins not holding cause after smacking prying the lil disc thing fell out lol

Posted By: toplescuda

Re: without busting the drum ...how to unstick them? - 01/20/12 12:47 AM

What if anything would happen if i unbolted the wheel cly? Its bolted from back side of backing plate corect? I cant remember now

Posted By: stumpy

Re: without busting the drum ...how to unstick them? - 01/20/12 12:49 AM

Wheel cylinder won't release the shoes. It is already retracted normally

Posted By: hp383

Re: without busting the drum ...how to unstick them? - 01/20/12 12:55 AM

If you look in the picture, I think your trouble is with the "Anchor Pin" the one the heavy springs pull against.

Posted By: johnzgarage

Re: without busting the drum ...how to unstick them? - 01/20/12 12:59 AM

from the back side, grind off or drill the head of the pins that hold the shoe hold-down springs. Then pull .....shoes and all will come out.

Posted By: bboogieart

Re: without busting the drum ...how to unstick them? - 01/20/12 01:03 AM

Quote:

If you look in the picture, I think your trouble is with the "Anchor Pin" the one the heavy springs pull against.

I am in agreement here. The shoes are probably still tucked behind the pin. Now that you have had some movment can you rotate the drums a little, and maybe they will let go. Don't be afraid to give it a couple good whacks with a 3 or 5 pound hammer. Like mentioned if the drums break they were most likely junk anyway. They can take a lot of abuse.

Posted By: toplescuda

Re: without busting the drum ...how to unstick them? - 01/20/12 01:33 AM

Cant rotate it guiess the movement im getting is from colapse the short springs that hold shoes to back plate

Posted By: radar

Re: without busting the drum ...how to unstick them? - 01/20/12 05:24 AM

BFH

Posted By: therocks

Re: without busting the drum ...how to unstick them? - 01/20/12 12:19 PM

Typically there is a ridge in the drum.Its about 1/4 inch.Thats where the drum dosent contact the shoes.They can be a bear to get off.You can grind the pin heads off in the backing plate and they usually come off.Ive had to pry some off.Use a few heavy screwdrivers and work them off.When I replace drums I usually cut the outer edge down a bit on the brake lathe.That way the ridge dosent catch like without the slight cut.Same thing when I turn drums.I cut that outer edge about .100 deeper than the drum is turned.Rocky

Posted By: 6PakBee

Re: without busting the drum ...how to unstick them? - 01/20/12 12:34 PM

I just went through this very thing on a rear drum on a '71 Mustang. What I did there, and have done before, is take a cold chisel and cut the heads off the "nails" for the shoe hold-down springs (look at the diagram posted earlier). That releases the shoes to pivot on the upper anchor. Worked for me every time.

Posted By: dogdays

Re: without busting the drum ...how to unstick them? - 01/20/12 03:57 PM

This is the sensible answer, suggested by several. You cut the heads of the nail-like pins and pull the drum as hard as you can. You may ruin the springs at the anchor pin attachment, but they can be replaced easily. I believe on my last one I used a two foot pry bar. Once the drum and whatever is stuck to it is off the car it's an easy job to get everything loose.

One warning: If you take the drums to a shop make sure that they take off a minimal cut. I've noticed many shops will set the cutter to either the maximum ID of a drum or the minimum thickness of the disk. No brains involved, plus next time they get to sell you a new drum or disk.

If you are sticking with drums I'd suggest Praise Dyno Brake as a source of better-than-stock brake shoes.

R.

Posted By: toplescuda

Re: without busting the drum ...how to unstick them? - 01/20/12 08:27 PM

Il give it a try next decent day im off
got a ? Thou... On the back the car has a sure grip ....going foward neither tire will roll but going backward the passenger tire will/did turn/roll backward is this cause of the sure grip not letting it turn from other hub stuck or is it just something in that drum only letting it turn one way?

Posted By: stumpy

Re: without busting the drum ...how to unstick them? - 01/20/12 11:34 PM

You'll find that answer when you get the drums off.

Posted By: dOoC

Re: without busting the drum ...how to unstick them? - 01/20/12 11:39 PM

Quote:

BFH

No ...a LITTLER one ...

I have uNstuck a couple of these in a Dana 70 in the past couple of years. A short-handled 4? lb sledge has wurked-ferr-me.

Posted By: mcmopars

Re: without busting the drum ...how to unstick them? - 01/21/12 11:27 AM

Quote:

Those things can be tough to get off sometimes. They do make a drum puller which helps a lot.
Big sledge hammer has been used before by me to break them into peices.
I think you should convert to disc brakes up front because front drums are gonna be hard to find I think. I converted my 71 from 4 wheel drum brakes, used spindles from a 73 E body that I used to own.
I do still have the old 11" drums from the front but have never took them apart yet to check them out.
What's crazy is my best new parts guy who I have known for a long time called me recently looking for those front 11" drums for one of his customers, he tells me he can't get them anymore?

i would convert to disc brakes also.keep the drums if you ever need them.there is no reason in the world not to have disc brakes,expecially on such a nice car.i would want all the modern stopping advantage i could get.

Posted By: Pyper70

Re: without busting the drum ...how to unstick them? - 01/21/12 11:37 AM

Liquid Wrench, a crowbar, a sledge hammer and a little

Posted By: 70Coronet500Vert

Re: without busting the drum ...how to unstick them? - 01/23/12 01:58 PM

The flame torch is a good idea too. You may have a raised rust ring on the center hub and that may be keeping it form coming off too.