Hey everyone I need some advise. I have a 1953 chevy truck and it was sitting in a guys meddow for 5-10 years before I got it and right now it's at my house and I am trying to take off the rear left drum brake and have not found out how...If someone could help me that would be great. - Mr. HP
stuck brakes Three things that could stick brakes , the parking brake is on, shoes stuck to the drum, drum frozen to axle. If the shoes are frozen you can cut the pins on the back of the drum to release them from the backing plate. If the drum is stuck to the axle you could hit the center with a hammer or get a brake drum puller. Gary
Back off the brake shoes with the star adjuster, soak the lugs with penetrating oil, use a scribe to score the "circle" between the hub and axle, tap the hub with a hammer, make sure that you've removed all of the tinnerman nuts, then put your back into it! Then call "Chiro" to find out what that twindge in your back is!
Here's a link that has pics http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/shop/1948_51truck/51ctsm0515.htm The adjuster at the bottom between the 2 brake shoes is what i'm talking about. You'll notice that it has a "star" shaped wheel. It is assessible though a slot on the backing plate. If you don't have a brake tool, use a flat bladed screwdriver and move it until it appears to have loosened the tension on the brake drum. Hope that helps. Ken
Also ; Beating the face of the drum between the studs with a BFH helps to shock the rusty shoes loose.... I know I'll miss and smash as least one stud so I always run the nuts back on reversed to protect the threads.... WAIL on it when you're using force , don't waste time tapping nor shouls you _ever_ hit the sides of the drum , you'll ruin it . Resist the urge to have the drums turned , just clean up the rust with coarse sand peper and they'll be good to go . Thin drums cause sudden brake failure , not fun in a heavy old truck
what i had to do on my old huck style brakes for the rear since the 2 adjusters where so corroded they would not turn. My drums would turn, i just couldn't get them off. I had to finally unbolt the wheel cylinders and put a large screw driver in there and knock them off the pads, that finally let them go. I was replacing the wheel cylinders anyway.
Hammer for sure! Mine was that way to. It took awhile but the beating, banging, prying and a wee bit of cussing--under my breath of course, it finally came loose. Rust had built up between the pads and drums. Rick
