OK folks, I'm now in my fourth day of trying to extract the threaded studs out of a 63 year old front brake drum to "NO" avail. I've tryed two machine shops with no success, have beaten on those studs with the back side of a splitting maul and fearing that 'yours truly" would ruin a priceless part from the past.
So, this morning I took the brake drum to a local repair shop that had a 4 ton hydraulic press that supposedly could press those stubborn studs out. In the late afternoon I learned that they had failed at their attempt. They were very concerned of exerting too much pressure and destroying the brake drum, so I told them to "STOP". If they ruin the drum I have nothing. The metal in the knurled area of the stud which was pressed into the wheel mounting plate must be totally bonded to one another after all these years. So, I have two choices. First, find another front brake drum for a '46. So far that looks like a total dream. The second is to "drill out" the studs somehow and remove those stubborn lugs and replace them with new ones. Easy task drilling out hardened studs eh? What a mess!!
This whole event is driving me crazy!! I've got a truck that is totally out of commission and worthless just because of some simple task that I did not perform! Like tighten the lug nuts you numb skull!! Grrrr!! :mad:
I'm sorry, but I just had to vent!! I'm at a lose about what to do.
