Any tips on freeing up stuck rear brakes
 

I am working on an 84 bluebird bus that has been sitting for a few years and the shoes are stuck to the drums. It is air brakes. Any advice?

Make sure drums are available, then beat on them with a sledgehammer until they come loose or break apart.

Chock the wells, release the air, and tap on the pads some.

I've always been able to pop the shoe with a hammer and break them loose but it's been after a short time being parked. You may be able to pry on the shoe backing plate with a bar set against the drum lip. Make sure you have the wheels chocked first since you have to work on them with the parking brake released and the bus could roll if you're successful.:cool:

I agree with all them. Release the brakes and beat on em. I always smack the drum first, so I' dont mess the shoes up. But if that doesn't work, you have no choice but to smack on the shoes. If they are really stuck, i'll back the brakes off a little bit, too, that seems to help. So far, I have never broke a drum, or shoes. I'll spray em down a little bit too and let it sit, if they are really stuck bad.

Some times you can strike the shoe and get them to release. It depends on how long it has been sitting and if the shoes were wet from rain or snow when it was parked. I have had to air hammer shoe's to get them to free up destroying them and the drums in the process. If the bus has been sitting for a few years then I would plan on doing a brake job also.

No big deal if I damage the drums. I just need to drive it about one mile home, then part it out. I just want it for the engine. Thanks for the advice

A fer turns of det cord around each drum??
:D [laugh][roll]

Heat might help. It doesn't take much to warm up a drum. In winter when I run local, I will carry a small torch that screws onto a coleman propane bottle. Lean it against the tire with the flame on the bottom of the drum. I have yet to have one that didn't pop loose by the time I finished my walk-around.

I freed brakes on a trailer this spring, Blaster would have helped, it took a lot of beating to get them loose, but I didn't get the free. Back off the slack adjuster, if it will turn.

[laugh][laugh][laugh][laugh]Sad, but true. Beat the snot out of it.

I've always broken them loose with either a sledge or a bar. Smack the drums a few times and if that doesn't work pry on the shoes a little. You could use a combination of the two also, beat and pry. Like others said, block the wheels first.