I'm having brake issues..., Drum won't come off!! Options

[95CelicaST]

So I bought some brake shoes the other day and I was going to tackle my rear brakes yesterday, so I took the wheel off and quickly ran into a problem. My drums seem to be stuck. I pryed and pryed and they wouldn't budge. I tapped with a soft-headed mallet and they wouldn't budge that way either. It got to the point where I was standing there kicking it. I finally gave up and threw my wheel back on. For some reason I know someone will ask that stupid question "Did you have your E-brake on? durrrrrr" and the answer is no. Is there some sort of way that should get them off? The search function yeilded no real results.

[LewFX]

here you go.



This post has been edited by LewFX: Sep 14, 2006 - 7:32 PM

[LewFX]

just curious but is it possible to put rotors on instead of the drum just for looks?

[Galcobar]

As in put rotors on the rear wheels instead of drums? Not without replacing the rest of the brake hardware.

If the drums are stuck and won't simply pull off, you might need to adjust your parking brake shoes off the drum -- the E-brake doesn't have to be engaged for them to be holding the drum on. If the drum was correctly installed, there's a hole in the face of the drum that lines up with a hole in the face of the hub. Turn the drum until those two holes are at the bottom, and you should see a toothed wheel. Adjust it with a screwdriver until the drum rotates quite freely.

This post has been edited by Galcobar: Sep 14, 2006 - 7:51 PM

[LewFX]

you could also use 2 10mm bolts into the drum holes and screw them in and it should push the drum out.

[95CelicaST]

It spins freely, but is stuck. I suppose I can go down to the hardware store and get some 10mm bolts and try that route. Thanks for the diagram Lew, but I already had that, however the one I have is in ~ size 4 font. It came in the box with shoes.

Another thing is that the part numbers on the shoes are all the same. So does it matter which one is the front shoe and rear shoe?

[LewFX]

Another thing is that the part numbers on the shoes are all the same. So does it matter which one is the front shoe and rear shoe?

no, just remember how it looks before u take it out then replacing, if you forget you can always look on the other side, just be sure to do one side at a time.

[95CelicaST]

no, just remember how it looks before u take it out then replacing, if you forget you can always look on the other side, just be sure to do one side at a time.

I know. I only have one jack, so unless I can get my friends to lay under the other side I am kind of stuck doing one at a time.

[Bitter]

you can just swap the rear stuff from a GT over to an ST if that what you're asking lew, it should be hard. just need everything between the strut and the wheel

[Steevo]

A puller. I used a three prong puller to get mine off, and still chipped it.





Or spray on some panther piss (Power Blaster in the yellow can, part number 16PB) and let it sit overnight and start in the morning, it usally rusts the center of the drum onto the hub center as that is its centering pin if you will.



If nothing else get a pair of drums ordered and use a bigger hammer, they are cast and cast cracks.

[94celicadude]

probably what happened is that your rear drum have gotten worn down quite a bit, and they have a lip on the inside edge where the brake shoes sit, and so the shoes sit in lower than the drum, and so it makes a ledge that you have to get around. I have had this happen to me the first time i did the shoe change, your best bet is to see if they can still be turned out by a mechanic so you dont have to buy drums too. good luck

[Bitter]

94 has it right, theres a lip. you'll have to work the shoes inward with the star adjuster. theres a rubber plug in the backing plate, pull that out and use a screw driver to turn the adjuster to loosen the shoes from the drum, then it should just come off.

[94celicadude]

94 has it right, theres a lip. you'll have to work the shoes inward with the star adjuster. theres a rubber plug in the backing plate, pull that out and use a screw driver to turn the adjuster to loosen the shoes from the drum, then it should just come off.

thank you for adding that part, i forgot to mention, and thanks for backin me up