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Jul 21st, 2025 | | | | Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 3 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 3 | On my 1/2 ton 62 GMC pickup when trying to remove the rear drums the shoes are stuck and will not let the drums off. I tried backing the adjuster all the way off spraying the wheel studs with pentrating oil hitting with hammer, but nothing I tried will make the shoes move in to let the drums off. Any ideas on how the remove the drums would help. Thanks
Charles. | | | | | Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 | There's a few things you can try. One thing that may be holding it up is rust on the hub itself, rather than the shoes grabbing a ridge. Try rapping the drum between the studs to loosen it up. You may have to get behind the drum with a prybar to apply pressure while rapping the drum with a hammer. A brass hammer is preferred for this, as it is far less damaging to the drum. Once it seems to move, try prying 180 degrees out to "walk" the drum off. I've used this method many times, especially on vehicles that have no provision for backing the adjuster off. It will take a little time to do to prevent damaging things, but it does work.
Bill Burmeister
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2001 Posts: 14,522 Moderator: Welcome Centre, Southern Bolters, Legion Hall | | Moderator: Welcome Centre, Southern Bolters, Legion Hall Joined: Dec 2001 Posts: 14,522 | If the brake shoes are stuck to the drums some drastic action may be required??....after all else fails.
I had one do that and I hooked a chain to the vehicle and started pulling it with my other truck. The wheel slide for about 10 feet then popped loose and started turning. I also had a friend walk beside it and give it a good whack in the center of the wheel. Once it broke loose the drum came off easy.
May not be a very nice way but it worked and no damage was done. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 28,674 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 28,674 | If the shoes are frozen to the drums and will not release, try cutting the heads off the "nails" that secure the shoes to the backing plates. Take a small angle grinder with a cutoff wheel, and grind away the head of the nail. The shoe and drum assembly can then be pried away from the backing plate far enough to get a pry bar inside the drum and dislodge the wheel cylinder pins. If things are that bad, you'll probably end up replacing everything inside the drums anyhow.
Jerry
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| | | | | Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,158 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,158 | The way we got the rear drums off of Number Seven was the old "Beat and Pry" method that Bill mentioned.
A little of your favorite penetrating oil used in conjuction will help things along, too.
Since things are bad enough that you have to beat and pry the drums off, you'll probably want to replace everything anyhow. Don't worry about sparing the parts unless you can't get them anymore. (Finding drums can be a problem on the older models, not sure about your year.)
Last edited by Brendan M; 04/27/2008 7:18 AM.
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 3 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 3 | Got them off thanks for the help | | |
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