Need Drum Removal Advice. Tell me your secret method...

[4woody]

I'm trying to get the rear drums off my 50 Plymouth, and boy are they stuck! These are a tapered press-fit to the spindle with a keyway.
I've got the brakes backed off, got a good sturdy puller on it- the type you tighten down, then whack the end with a BFH- and lots of PB Blaster sprayed in there. And I'm getting nowhere.
Tell me your secrets of drum persuasion...

[manyolcars]

heat it and beat it

[57wagon]

I had the same problem on the rear of my 57 chevy... After quite a bit of bashing with the BFH and a whole lot of stress build up and relief the finally broke free....

Other than that, I would definatley like to hear of a better way.....

[4woody]

How hot, and can I do it somehow withoud destroying bearings, seals, cylinder, etc.?

[4woody]

Er I mean propane torch hot, or oxy acet hot?

[yorgatron]

i said you could borrow my slide hammer gizmo,i only use it once or twice a year,but when i need it,i really need it.alternate method,remove the cotter pin,loosen the nut 1/2 turn,re-install cotter pin,drive it around the block.should have broken loose the taper by then.if not,i can stop by wednesday with my slide hammer-george

[4woody]

Hey George-
I tried driving it- No dice. Maybe I need to drive it more!
Don't know if your slide hammer is better than what I've got, but I wouldn't mind giving it a try if you're gonna be around. Call me at 818-4561. or pm me your # again.
Hugh

[TV]

I know how I've done it before. Back off of the nut until you can get a .010 feeler gauge behind the washer, then re-key it. Then drive it and take corners pushing the tire away from the car. do the corner thing at least 4 times, that should work.--TV http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[dehudso]

The way we have always done it on hudson axles like that is as follows.

We have a 1/4" steel plate with 3 holes in it that match the bolt pattern. 3 grade 8 bolts then screw into the bolt holes. With the nut flush with the end of the axle tighten the bolts so that everything is snug. Then we tighten it using a impact wrench rotating around the 3 bolts. It cant come off and whack you in the head because the nut is still on the axle. Good luck.

For the heat. I'd apply it at the center of the drum, where it seats on the axle, if the shoes are really free of the drum.

Good luck.

[C9]

Here's what I used on my 50 Plymouth.
We call the puller "Mongo."

Mongo's flange is 1" thick.
Main screw bolt is 1" diameter.
Square tubing cross-bar is 2 x 2" x .250 wall.
1/2" bolts adapt it to the Plymouth hub.
Note the origninal castellated nut is on backwards to protect the threads.

(This puller is set up to take an 8 ton bottle jack, but it develops more force with the 1"- NF bolt.)

The pic is of the right rear.
On the left side I was fortunate to have a later model hub with RH lug studs.
Those were adapted to the puller with appropriate coupling nuts.

Once the puller is drawn up tight, application of a little heat on the hub as DeHudson says will do the trick.

Beating on it with a hammer is tough on the bearings etc. so I'd stay away from that.
A steady force from a big puller and a little heat almost always does it.

[C9]

Here's Mongo set up to go.
Shown on an extra rear end.

in actual on the car use, the big Crescent wrench (adjustable spanner for the OZ & UK guys) rests on a block of wood sitting on the ground so as to stop rotation.

[marq]

i use a 5 legged ub puller on mine.................Marq

[4woody]

WoW! C-9's tool is serious! I like the Mongo concept, but don't have the plate or a way to cut it, but maybe I can get a friend with a real metal shop to do it...
In the meantime I'll try more Kroil and maybe go for a longer drive...see if it lets go.
Thanks everybody

[C9]

Mongo say thanks.

Mongo would introduce you to ugly sister with flame cut plate, but sister ran away with man driving beer truck.

Joke on sister. Beer man not know one end of BFH from other and sister unhappy about whole thing.

Sister hides in bottom of beer truck cab and gets rusty from beer leaking out of kegs.

Mongo not sure if that bad way to go or not.

Rust bad.

Beer good....