hey,can anyone tell me the easiest way to get the brake drums off a 72 Nova.Thanks

Are you talking about removing the drums to get to the shoes or take the whole assembly off.

If you just want to remove the drums for service and they are sticking.

First make sure the parking brake is off, they should slide off. If they don't, then give them a couple of whacks with a rubber mallet. If that doesn't work, see if there is a hole in the backing plate. There might be a hole there (the old 10 bolt in my 65 didn't have one) that you can stick a screwdriver in. Spin the adjuster to take tension off the shoes.

Now if none of that works, as was the case with said stock 10 bolt from my 65, here is what I did. I used a big'ol hammer and whacked the heck outta the drum until it came loose. This is when I first bought the car. A ridge had formed on the drum lining and the shoe was caught up on it. The hammer got things loose since I had no hole in the backing plate.

Now I hope that was the question.


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Team Chevelle Gold
1965 406 6speed

PULL.......just kidding, if they are stuck, first try to back off the starwheel of the shoe adjuster, not easy cause you have to hold the metal tab off the wheel to turn it the wrong way. There is a slot in the backing plate to do this. This will allow the shoes to retract and let go of the drum.If you still cant get it off after this, rent a large 3 finger puller which is made for this purpose. Really they should come off pretty easy, but if the drum is really worn, it will need a BFH to beat it off, and then replace it, cause it will be junk after beating it off. Try the puller first.


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70 chevelle ss396 conv
66 chevelle ss396 hdp/conv
55 chevy prostreet
69/71 camaros
TC member #493

It took me a couple of days to get the drums off the rear in my 67. She had sat for a long long time. No BFH needed. After the star was backed off etc, the problem is that the axle end "rusts" itself onto the back of the drum. Pentrating oil, apply, tap, apply, tap, apply tap, and it might seems like you;re not making progress but i put it up on stands and did it about 4/5 time, let it sit over night and they came off liked nothing the next morning. And I didn;t have to beat the hell out of them and riun good drums or ding up the backing plate.

I have found "Thrust" is the best stuff out there. Spray it around all those little cutout holes on the face of the drum and around the axle end. Liberally.

Nice and easy, that's the way to do it, nice and easy....

Good luck.

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Chaas
Gold #62/ACES
67 SS396/L88
www.chevelles.com/showroom/chaas1.jpg (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/chaas1.jpg)

[This message has been edited by Gene Chas (edited 03-02-2000).]

thanks for all the good advice.i love this site!!!!

Here is another trick to try if you do not want to beat the drums with a hammer. With the rear end jacked up and the rear wheels removed, put the car in gear with the engine running and "spike" the brakes a couple times. Then put it in reverse and repeat the process. This will loosen rusted drums pretty easily.