what is the most efficent or easiest way to remove brake drums?

Question

please help have a brake job coming up on a 1999 chevy Monte Carlo and wanted to know the easiest way to remove them

Answer 1

back off brakes and spay center of drum and lug nut holes on drum.if you do not have a puller smack it with a three pound hammer on outer circumfrence-[ spray is penetrating fluid]

Answer 2

The easiest way is with a puller. The oil and pound or heat and pound will work but take more time and effort. From Popular Mechanics.

"Remove the drum--a job that's often easier said than done. Some brake drums are simply sandwiched between the hub and wheel and held in place by nothing more than a clip to keep the drum from falling onto your foot when the wheel is removed. Others may have a Phillips-head screw to achieve the same purpose. All brake drums have a machined bore in their center that locates on a land on the hub. This is to keep the drum concentric with the axle. All too often, corrosion and road dirt will have insinuated themselves into the few thousandths of an inch of clearance there, making the drum difficult to remove. Start by giving the drum a few whacks with a soft-head hammer, in the hope that the shock will pulverize the corrosion, and let the drum free up.

This never works right off, of course. Soak the area with penetrating oil and whack again. Don't whack so hard that you dent, crack or bend the drum. If the drum still won't budge, check to be sure the parking brake is really off and the cable that actuates it isn't hung up. Now is the time to check the manual for any insight it offers into removing the drum.

Our example vehicle, a Suzuki Grand Vitara, has two 8mm holes drilled and tapped into the face of the drum. We threaded a pair of 8mm bolts into them and the bolts pushed the drum off cleanly. Stubborn drums may require the use of heat and a large tool called a drum puller. If you need a drum puller, the auto parts store that sold you the shoes should be able to rent--or if you ask nicely, lend--you one."

Answer 3

Back off the brake adjusters spray the lug holes and where the drum meets the hub with BLASTER and tap them off gently. They are cast iron and break easily. If they will not come off take the car to shop and heat the tar out of the face of the drum. They are usually rusted on the center hub and heat is the usual answer.

If the drums have never been replaced you may need new ones depending on their condition.

Answer 4

Rear brake drums are quite confusing to get rid of, frequently. Are there any threaded holes interior the face of the drum? some eastern vehicles have a pair of empty bolt holes interior the face. You thread interior the perfect length bolts, and bammo - off she comes.

Answer 5

First- take a photo before you take anything apart. Make a drawing/take notes as you pull things apart. Take note of each spring shape and it's exact position. I put a small wrench (or metal bar) across the wheel Cylinder and press it in with a C-clamp before you put it back together.
Don't forget to adjust the star gear after everything is back together.

Answer 6

What you need a very heavy hammer (like 5 pound ball peen hammer).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ball-peen_hammer

Or you can get a dead blow hammer

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/search.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&keyword=dead+hammer&vertical=TOOL

The dead blow hammer will lower the risk of putting a dent in your drums.
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The drum will get stuck through normal wear. The only way to quickly loosen them is to hammer it loose with above hammers.

Answer 7

hit them with a sledge hammer then turn and pull if they dont come off hit them harder

Answer 8

i've heard taking the tire off helps

Answer 9

get a wrench and UNBOLT them