Hey All I was wondering if anybody had any ideas. I can't get my rear brake drums off. The car was in the body shop for a year. All the brakes,drums shoes return springs ebrake cables all are brand new. Does not even have fluid in the system yet. I beat the h--- out of the drums and they don't budge. The drums rotate fine but I can't get them off. Has anybody ever have drums warp? While it was in the body shop I only had 3 lug nuts on each wheel. The drums never got hot. Anybody got any ideas??? Thanks

Maybe you need to back off the adjusters so the drum will come off . I know you stated they were new just a thought. Do the wheel studs have any retainer clips on them?
Mike

Sounds like you might need a big hammer. Screw all (5) lugs onto the studs (about 3/4 way so no threads are showing w/tappered end in) then tap the lugs one at a time with the hammer while tapping the outer portion of the drum lightly. Should pull off with some "elbow grease". :clonk:

Cut the heads of the brake shoe retaining pins with a big side cutter.

Maybe you need to back off the adjusters so the drum will come off.
Mike

Sometimes the shop will not resurface the drums and will leave a lip similar to a ridge on a cylinder wall of a high mile engine. If this is the case just try the above method FIRST. ;)

The only things that keep drums from coming of if there is a retaining clip or two on one of the studs, a ridge on the brake drums, which the shoe hang up on, and rusted to the axle. If you have adjustment hole in your backing plate (or sometimes in the brake drum), remove the rubber plug and take a brake shoe adjustment tool and loosen up your brake shoes. Your drums should come off. You mentioned everthing is new, did you have the drums turned that would of have left a lip as previously mentioned?

I think its still just rusted together. I had to hit mine really hard several times with a huge hammer in between the studs and it popped off.