This may be a stupid question, but here it goes.
I have a 1967 Chevelle SS with front drum brakes. In trying to inspect and clean the front brakes, I was able to get at the left front and clean, but couldn't get the right front one (drum) off. The wheel spins freely and the brake shoes don't seem to be binding. It's like it is rusted on or something. I gave up on the right because everything was working OK.
Now, after servicing the left front and not the right, the car pulls to the left when the brakes are applied, so now I have to get it off. I tried someone's advice and hit it with a hammer a few times, but that didn't work. I'm not sure if I should be doing that or not. I successfully used a wheel puller on a stuck rear one, but I can't get a bite on the front one. Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance,
Larry

Larry. Will it move in and out at all? If not, It's more than likely frozen (rusted) to the hub. Try heating the drum with a propane torch and then wacking it.
If it moves in and out a little, Then its more than likely that the drum is worn and now has a lip that the shoe's are hanging up on. You need to adjust the shoe's in so it will clear. I had this problem with my sons nova. With no adjuster slot, I ended up cutting the pegs on the backing plate side, that ancher the retainer springs and yanking the entire thing off. Good Luck.

Hit it with a hammer with a little crow bar behind it. Hit in in between the studs and then rotate it and hit it again. I had to hit mine really hard with a huge hammer, I couldnt believe how hard I had to hit.

Front is easy if they're really stuck good... pop off the dust-cover, remove outer bearing, pull drum with hub still attached.

Scott,
It doesn't move in or out at all. It does seem as though it is rusted to the hub. I'll try the crow bar and hammer next. Does whacking it with the hammer or heating it with a torch damage or warp the drum? Where exactly should I hit it with the hammer?

Front is easy if they're really stuck good... pop off the dust-cover, remove outer bearing, pull drum with hub still attached.
Then throw in trash can and get disc brake conversion kit :thumbsup:

Then throw in trash can and get disc brake conversion kit :thumbsup:
Trash? nah... I recycle ;)

Scott,
It doesn't move in or out at all. It does seem as though it is rusted to the hub. I'll try the crow bar and hammer next. Does whacking it with the hammer or heating it with a torch damage or warp the drum? Where exactly should I hit it with the hammer?

Your not heating it that much. Just trying to expand it.
Try to hit it between or close to the lugs. Your trying to break the rust bond between the drum and the hub. JUST DON'T HIT THE LUGS!!!
If you use the crow bar. Put it between the drum and and the backing plate, pry out as you hit the outer rim of the drum. You may need to do this on differant sides. Just hit it, rotate, and repeat.

pry with a big screwdriver between the drum and backing plate while hitting between the lug studs. whack it a few times at each spot, turn 90 degrees, and repeat. keep doing it until the drum comes off.
or do like the other Derek said and just pop off the hub with the drum attached, and then figure out how to separate them while it's apart.

Remove the drum and hub and use a press to seperate them.

Like I said up above, but wanted to clear it up, do more hitting than prying, IMO. Wouldnt want to bend anything. Oh yea, and I usually dont, but you should wear a face mask! :yes:

those backing plates are pretty damn durable- i've put a LOT of pressure on them before when trying to pry a drum loose, and i've never bent one. the cast drum will chip before the backing plate will give.
and if that happens, it's time to start gathering parts for a disc swap- which you want anyways..

Remove the drum and hub and use a press to seperate them.Press sounds too "professional" for me... the farmer in me says that a few 2x4s and a BFH will work best. ;)

I have two BFH's

We see it a lot on newer vehicles too. And by a lot I mean probably 2-3 times a day. Hit it solid, rotate 90', hit it, rotate, hit it, repeat until off.

Wear a dust mask. No need to breathe that stuff in.

Thanks everyone!
I just came from the garage... I tried hammering, prying with screwdriver and crowbar, but then I just took off the hub/drum by removing the bearing nut. That was the easiest thing. Then I laid it hollow side down and tapped on the lugs and turned it over and pushed/tapped it down on the concrete floor. I did that a few times (I don't have a large press) and it sprang apart. Now that it's cleaned and reassembled, I'm going out for a test drive with the top down (It's 80 and sunny here in FL). This site is great!
Thaks again,
Larry

Well congrats for getting it off! Good ol' determination is all it takes. Enjoy the weather!

Great to hear that you got it apart Larry.
It was 72 here today until it started raining. Now its 61 and wet. http://bestsmileys.com/weather/1.gif

Are front drums supposed to be separate from the hub? I had no idea... i always thought they were once peice!

Are front drums supposed to be separate from the hub? I had no idea... i always thought they were once peice!
Yes, they are separate. Discs are 1 piece (although some original discs were also 2-piece, but nobody reproduces them as 2-piece)

we've got an old wheel outside that has the drum built into it. no one knows what it's from, but my mom thought it would look cool leaning against the front of the house.
how fun would that be if the brake shoes were holding the drum on, and you had a flat tire on a rainy night..

we've got an old wheel outside that has the drum built into it. no one knows what it's from, but my mom thought it would look cool leaning against the front of the house.
how fun would that be if the brake shoes were holding the drum on, and you had a flat tire on a rainy night..Is it a wood wheel? It's very possible it's a Model T rear wheel. If so, it's the parking-brake goes in that drum, the brakes are in the transmission on those cars... and you don't pull the wheel to change tires. You cary a spare tire, spare tube, a couple bars for pulling the tire over the bead, and a hand-pump. (and yes, I've done this in the rain)

it's a steel rim with steel spokes. maybe 20" in diameter (old school dubs, eh?) and about 4" wide. it has a 5 bolt mounting pattern to bolt to the separate hub.
it MIGHT be off that 36 Chev 2 door sedan that's rotting away out in the pasture..

I had the same issue this weekend with my drums on a 71. I was converting to disks so I didn't car too much about hurting anything. I SOAKED my hub with spray in liquid wrench. I sprayed it in any hub hole I could find. After letting it soak a few hours I beat on it again with the rubber mallet. It slowly worked its way off. A mysterly considering the left one nearly feel right off.