Brake Drum Frozen to Shoes

[kbuhagiar]

Frozen Brake Drum - Need Assistance

Hello, all,

Does anyone out there have any ideas about how to remove a brake drum that is stuck solid to the brake shoes? I have a front spindle/hub/brake drum assembly (not mounted to the car) that I am attempting to take apart. I was able to get some peek-a-boo room by removing the spindle nut and outer bearing, and have verified that indeed the shoes are 'welded' to the inside of the brake drum. I have spent the last few hours spraying rust solvent all along the edge of the shoes, but I am getting discouraged (and I am impatient).

I thought about immersing the entire assembly into my parts cleaning tank as a last resort; would that be effective?

Any other ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again.

 

[kbuhagiar]

Hello, all,

Does anyone out there have any ideas about how to remove a brake drum that is stuck solid to the brake shoes? I have a front spindle/hub/brake drum assembly (not mounted to the car) that I am attempting to take apart. I was able to get some peek-a-boo room by removing the spindle nut and outer bearing, and have verified that indeed the shoes are 'welded' to the inside of the brake drum. I have spent the last few hours spraying rust solvent all along the edge of the shoes, but I am getting discouraged (and I am impatient).

I thought about immersing the entire assembly into my parts cleaning tank as a last resort; would that be effective?

Any other ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again.

 

[Mikey1]

Guess that's what I would do as well.....also you could try and warm the drum up with a torch....but carefully...

 

[Rowdy1]

Heat

What are you trying to salvage, drum, spindle?

 

[Ken Anderson]

Use the smokewrench, it works every time!

 

[kbuhagiar]

What are you trying to salvage, drum, spindle?

In order of priority, I am trying to salvage the (1) spindle, (2) backing plate, and (3) brake drum.

 

[Subfixer]

Knock the backs off of the 2 pins that are inserted from the back of the backing plate (the 2 pins that hold the brake shoes to the backing plate). After that, you may be able to wrestle off the drum with all the brake hardware inside as one piece.

 

[Culprit]

Ken,

I'm going to assume that your 63 front brakes are close to, if not the same, as my 78 rears. I had a similar problem, but it was rust between the brake drum and the spindle/hub assembly. Someone on CAC (can't remember who) turned me on to PB Blaster. It's a whole lot better than the other two brands of liquid wrench that I had tried. The key was time - I would soak it before I went to work, and soak it when I got home and soak it before I went to bed. I also pulled out the biggest rubber hammer I had, and a nice 3 lb sledge (gently with a wood block) to vibrate the assembly and cause the PB Blaster to work it's way farther in.

If your brake assembly has an adjustment wheel like the C-3 rear's, make sure the wheel is turned all the way in the direction that retracts the shoes from the drum.

I can't stress how much better PB Blaster is than any other brand available!!!

Semper Fidelis,
Culprit

 

[kbuhagiar]

Ken,

If your brake assembly has an adjustment wheel like the C-3 rear's, make sure the wheel is turned all the way in the direction that retracts the shoes from the drum.

I can't stress how much better PB Blaster is than any other brand available!!!

Semper Fidelis,
Culprit

Culprit,

Thanks for the response. After much persuading I was able to remove the drum without any significant damage to the important parts.

Now, tell me about this '78 with drum brakes...I didn't think drums were available on Corvettes after 1965...

 

[Gerry]

Only way that ever worked for me was Hammer the @#$% out of it.

Gerry

 

[kbuhagiar]

Only way that ever worked for me was Hammer the @#$% out of it.

Gerry

That's what I ended up doing, and it finally worked, with surprisingly little damage.

Thanks to all who responded.

 

[Gerry]

That's what I always say about these cars, "Warm it up and then Hammer em". They really respond to this.

Gerry

 

[Vette/Berlina-coupe]

-he's probably refering to the cute'sie lil'drum/parking-brake within the '78's rear-Rotor.... ~Bob vH

 

[Culprit]

Yes Bob - I was talking about the drum parking brakes inside the disc brake rotor. And no, I didn't think it was "cute'sie" at all when it was frozen solid!

Ken - glad you got it off without breaking anything major.

Semper Fidelis,
Culprit