Stuck front drums.
 

This has been addressed a million times. And yet here I am. About a year ago I purchased a "doodlebug". As you can imagine this probably hasn't had an easy life. When I got it it had barely any front brakes and had no backing plates in the rear. I swapped in a new rear axle and brakes. And am trying to fix up the fronts. But I can't get the drums off. I loosened the adjuster on both wheels and the wheels spin freely. Removed the hub nuts and washers and those drums won't budge. I tried heating them gingerly tapping on them with a hammer and wooden board. Is there any more radical way to get these off? I couldn't get my brothers puller to do the job either.

Re: Stuck front drums.
 

Have you got the outer wheel bearing off? Also rotate the drum as you
try to pull it off.


Bob

Re: Stuck front drums.
 

Yes, I removed the bearing.

Re: Stuck front drums.
 

Inner race sounds to be seized on the spindle, outer race rusted to drum...you're going to have to gets some penetrating oil in there for a day or two and use a puller or beat that sucker off, If you get a puller on it get some pressure on it and leave it for a day, come back put more pressure on it, maybe tap it, see if it pops, keep it up till shes free, may take several days.

Re: Stuck front drums.
 

Clear the path in front of the drum or rig restraints, so that if it pops good, damage is minimized in its path.

Re: Stuck front drums.
 

They have to be hung up on the shoes. The shoes may not be retracting enough and there is a lot of rust on the drum outer edge. They'll probably have to be forced off. Rotating and beating with a big ass hammer may allow the shoes to move enough.

Re: Stuck front drums.
 

If they haven't come off yet here's radical...
Disconnect all brakes save the one you are working on
Install outer bearing and spindle nut, leave it nice and loose
Put the brake adjuster back in
Push the car forward/backward and slam the brake while rolling

Your're going to need some friends for this but if you can get the brake to grab enough it should break the inner bearing free

Re: Stuck front drums.
 

I forgot to update. The Bearings were seized to the spindle. I had to cut them out. I tried everything under the sun. Penetrating oil,wax candle, heat cycling. I'm just happy it wasn't something I did wrong.