Hello
Sorry if this is a stupid question but. I am trying to install new brake shoes. I can't get one of the front drums off. There seems to be some type of clip holding the drum down, right were the drum and stud meet. I am attaching a pic of it. Any help on how to remove these would greatly be appreciated.

Thanks again
Clay

 

Those drums are pressed onto the wheel studs/hub. You need to take the cap off the center of the hub, remove the cotter pin, retainer, and nut. This will let the outer bearing come out and then the drum will pull off.

 

tintwo is right.

If you're still having problems after removing the hub nut, try using a brake spoon (a flat head screw driver will work in a jam) to loosen brake adjuster from the back of the wheel. It'll be a star shaped nut accessed through the long oval (which may or may not have a rubber plug in it). If I remember correctly, you'll want to push the spoon up to loosen.

Lastly, a few raps from a hammer onto the drum will loosen the shoes if they've adhered to the drum via rust.

Good luck.

 

yep. taking it apart is easy, putting back together right not that easy if you've never done a wheel bearing before. you need to check the bearing and have the correct preload on the nut (play) so that you don't jam the bearing when you tighten it back up. if unsure get help from someone who did that before. you can do it yourself the next time round ..,.,

 

I can't speak for the '66 but I had a similar problem with my '68. The spindles seemed fused to the drum but it was rust and time that did it. Since I was replacing the drums, I took them off as one piece and used a hand sledge to break the old drum and separate them.

 

Thanks for all the help I appreciate it!!!!!

 

What you're experiencing is not uncommon. In later years, some car manufacturers put threaded holes in the drums that you could thread bolts into that would contact the spindle and break the bond. If you're replacing the drums, the old ones are cast and will break. It takes several blows with a sledge on a hard surface that seemingly do nothing but eventually the drum will break and you can separate the the pieces and re-use the old spindle with the new drum.

 

The front drum on 65-73 Mustangs is supposed to be a pressed fit on the hub.

 

This one is on my passenger side. The driver side wasn't pressed in at all. That drum came out with no issue's. Unfortunately this wasn't the first oddity I have found on my baby, and it won't be the last