Hey All,
I'm trying to change brakes. The rear drivers side drum will not come off. How can I get this thing to come off. The other side came right off, as usual. This is on a '01 2500, Dana 70. Any ideas? Need help ASAP. Thanks!

 

Can you rotate the drum? If so, try adjusting the shoes inward in order to make their diameter smaller than that of the worn/groved drum.

If it won't rotate, the drum may have rusted to the shoes.(Happens when setting the e-brake after running thru water). In this case, a BFH and possibly the purchase of a new drum

 

Yes can rotate the drum easily........ Tried the BFH! The adjuster is turned all the way in... it looks like the drum is rusted on the hub.

 

Put the other drum on, use a couple of wheel lug nuts, put them on loose and start the truck run it up to ???MPH and stomp on the brake pedal, then do it in reverse. This always gets the one I am working on off.

 

Two more options. Liquid wrench around the studs. let it sit for awhile, then use the BFH again.

If you don't want to try the above, might try a propane torch to heat up and expand the drum then some cold water tocontract the drum. Might break it free, but the heat has possibilities of doing other damages to axle seals.

 

I thought about the heat thing but what will happento the rest of the hub? I put Liquid Wrench on lastnight and tried the BFH again this morning.... Is there a puller that is big enough?

 

The heat could transfer from the axle hub, down the axle and damage the axle seal. Not a likely thing, but it can happen. Ask me how I know

If you just hold the flame on the drum itself and let it expand and contract to loosen up the hold that the rust has on it, you should be good to go.

As for a puller, I quess they make them that big, but I sure wouldn't want to have to buy one. Around here, O'Reilly's is a good source to get seldom used tools for various jobs. If you buy your parts from them, the loan of the tools is free.

 

I put the BFH away after discovering the jack it up with one loose lug and stomp on the brakes method.
Works every time and is easy.
The loose lug nut is only to keep you from having to chase the drum down the street.

 

Please don't ever try the heat it up and throw cold water on it method. You can, but you'll also be shopping for new drums after they split from being quenched.

 

This has worked for me all the time trying to get off a stuck drum. Use an air chisle between the lug studs. I'd use a flat chisle and just buzz around a few times. The use of PB blaster or liquid wrench will help too. You still might have to beat the drum off a little with a hammer but this will get the rust to break loose.

 

I have on occasion had to heat the drum right next to the axle just lightly and then use a brass punch right between the studs and as close to the axle as possible with a big hammer and go all around the drum. that uaually cracks the drum loose. Then using shop air cool the axle down as quick as you can to prevent heat transfer to the axle seal.
I've been doing this for years and have'nt lost a wheel seal yet. Good luck.

 

one trick i always use is the get a blunt air hammer bit with a heavy duty air hammer and start hammering around each stud untill you hear the pitch change, work around each one and then hit the face of the drum with a 3 lb mini sledge and it will come off i have never had a drum i can't get off and i have done so many i can't even count. i love the challenge.

Chris

 

Try the method infidel (Bill) is describing and you can put away the torches, air chisels and Hammers.

Here's the procedure from another thread in the forums.

This works.
I've also used the same procedure to loosen an inner wheel that was frozen to the axle on my dually.

 

Last time I did mine I had to back off the star adjuster because there was a lip worn into the inside of the drum that wouldn't let the drum slide over the shoes.

 

You guys work to hard!!