Can somebody help me with some info on seperating the front drum from the hub? It seems fused. I've heard you could obliterate the drum with a sledge. Seems like that would damge the rotor. Thought about new rotors if they're available or swithching to a disc setup if it's not beyond my rookie level. Thanks.

 

Your drums probably are grooved or have a lip on them. You have to turn the self adjuster through the access hole in the backing plate. It is at the bottom. If you have the other side apart you will see what I mean.

 

You did take the outter bearing off right?

 

Yeah remove the dust cap, pull the cotterpin, turn the nut counterclockwise, then you can remove the drums. Can post pics tomorrow if you like...

 

What I have done- I removed the wheel, the dust cap, cotter pin, and removed the nut. I removed the drum easily along with what I believe is called the rotor, which is seized to the inside of the drum with a cylinder protruding thru the other side of the drum. Which housed a cone shaped thing with bearings in it, a washer, nut, cotter pin, and dust cap. I thought I'd take the wheel off, pull the old drum off, pop the new one on, adjust the pads, put the wheel back on. hahaha. Any advice is really appreciated. Thanks.

 

I think that the thing you are calling a rotor is actually the hub. You only have rotors on disc brake cars. The studs are what hold the drum and hub together. The studs are the things where your lugs nuts bolt up. The studs are usually slightly crimped to hold the hub and drum together. Lay the drum flat on the ground and punch the studs out. I use a piece of brass round stock to keep from damaging the threads. You can also put and old lug nut on the stud and smack it with a BFH. If you do damage the studs just replace them. They are only about $2 each. The drum and hub will then be loose. Replace the drum and reinstall the studs from the back. Is this making sense?

 

Yes. I actually started to knock them out unintentionally. Now that you mention it, I think I can deal with this more easily with the studs out of the way. Anyhoo, I'll go at it again Sat. as it's my boy's birthday today and check back in.

Thank you.

 

I'm not sure why you would want to remove the lug bolts. The hub and bolts come off as one unit. From what I gather, your shoes are stuck to the hub. In that case, loosening the adjusting wheel and lightly tapping the hub should knock it loose so you can wiggle the hub back and forth to get it off the shoes.

 

Removing the studs did it. Cleaned up and reassembled. Had to move the brake pads in. Set them so they're just grazing the inside of the drums. Thanks again for your help.

 

If it pulls to the left or right when you are finished, you will need to adjust the shoes on the opposite side a little tighter. As you said, they should just rub a tad as you turn the hub, and both sides should rub the same amount. Glad you got her fixed.