Rear drums - 54 Pathfinder

Roughshod Rod · Veteran Member

Rear drums - 54 Pathfinder

Fitz · Guru

If I read correctly, you want to remove the rear drum?

They are glued in place?

Try this, remove wheel, and keep the nut off. Your car is jack up, apply brake and run in from D to R and D and R, they will come off.

You can use torch too.

Fitz.

Roughshod Rod · Veteran Member

The transmission only runs in reverse. I will try it all the same.

427carl · A Poncho Legend!

Rent/borrow a Backhoe... attach a chain to the brake drum, and then get in and yank on the levers, and the backhoe part will move back and forth and the drum will fly off... biggrin

Roughshod Rod · Veteran Member

Hhahahah. I am getting the idea that rear drums are notoriously PITA - who needs rear brake maintenance anyways? I plan on using hondas and toyotas to slow down.
I have pics if that will help.
There are no bolts/nuts on the front side, just a 5" diameter cap that has no edge to pry on.

speelman1958 · Addicted!

I left mine to my mechanic to deal with!! that's why he gets paid the big bucks!!haha

-- Edited by speelman1958 on Tuesday 31st of March 2009 03:56:50 PM

Roughshod Rod · Veteran Member

I have no big bucks. I am a student, so I wasted it all on big books.

Rolilk · Guru

Take your time they will come off. They might have some use by now and have a small lip on the inner drum surface and its that that is holding them on. If you can open the rubber cover for the adjuster hole and see if you can set the shoes back smaller to help get the drum off. Plus the fact that they might be rust welded on also. soak them down real good afew times on the inner edge, and around the studs you will get the drums and shoes all full of fliud but eventually the wd40 or whatever you use will losen the drum up. And with some light tapping on the back edge of the drum and turn them a bit then tap some more they will slowly come off bit by bit. Just don't be in too much of a hurry and hit them too hard and bust off some of the studs, or something else.

Roughshod Rod · Veteran Member

Thanks Rolilk.
I tapped them a bit and it seemed to move them, but I was not about to overdo it. Its good to know they can take a bit more muscle.

Rolilk · Guru

Just be carefull to make sure that you dont pull the shoes out with the drum if you can try to see if the shoes are starting to show on the back edge of the drum. If they are then they will come off no problem. Keep at it, we were all there at one time or another. When your done with all that you are doing you will be the expert, and know your car like no other. This is how our hobby goes.