how to remove seized up brake drums?

Question

my rear brake drums on my car are seized up

Answer 1

Well first of course you should consult a mechanic. I presume that they are seized because the car has been sitting a long time. I which case you could have other serious problems. After removing the wheel, take a hammer and hit the brake drum at the 12, 3, 6, & 9 o'clock positions. Don't hit it too hard because it could a cause damage. As you are doing this, brake dust and most importantly rust will fall out of the bottom of the drum. You should consider wearing a lightweight mask. This should free your brake drum.

Answer 2

They're probably sticking to the pads, hit the outside of the drum all the way around with a mallet, you can then use a couple of large screwdrivers or pry bars to wedge the drum of a little at a time from opposite side of drum. Put pry bar between rear plate and inner edge of drum to do this. Before doing this make sure you release parking brake cable from the point at the back of drum in case the cable is seized and holding pads against drum. Good Luck.

Answer 3

First make sure the emergency brake is not on, if not check to see if you can turn the drum with your hands with the car in neutral but make sure the car is secure and safe to do so.If you can then spray penetrating fluid around the center of the drum where the axle is protruding through drum,really good, and use a rubber mallet to beat around the drum let it set for about 5 min., then try to wiggle it off, if not then repeat the above steps it should come off a little each time.

Answer 4

Use a 2 pound steel hammer and whack the drum on the far outside edge rotating the drum as you hit it. The impact and vibration will usually make it break free. The other way is to use a torch and heat the drum in between the wheel stud area in 5 spots. Get it red hot in each spot about an inch in diameter. When you have it right, the drum will actually make a "pop" noise like when unsealing a jar peaches etc.

Answer 5

Remove wheel - release hand brake - hit drum casing on each side with hammer - usually frees them from the seized shoes inside - remove hub - clean out and replace with new brake shoes

Answer 6

The only way to remove them is to try to hammer them off bit by bit and squirt WD40 in any gap you can find. If the hammering causes the brake drum to fracture, then I am afraid it is a new pair of brake drums about £30 each.

Answer 7

ok you got a job ahead of you, but the only thing i can think of is this,, first i try to looseing the brake shoes up, theit a plug hole, eather in front of the drum, are it going to be in the back od the brake houseing,,,, now if you can find it it may need to be punch out, you see where, it been make for a hole, too try a good nut off spary, an with a small prize bar, try to work it off

Answer 8

it's quite possible that the handbrake cable is siezed causing the problem. if resistance cannot be felt when applying the handbrake the cable is suspect. if it wont free off sufficiently to release the bakes and allow replacement it may be necessary to cut it off. advice already offered is correct procedure for removing siezed drums.

Answer 9

heat, and hammer. but first try easying oil spray can, spray and leave over night and then the hammer in the morning if this does not work you may have to get a small disposal blow tourch to heat it all round