Brake Drum Puller

[RedMF40]

A little show and tell. I have a 1966 Citroën 2CV that I’m hopefully bringing back to life. Rear brake drums were stuck, beating on them didn’t work. Just needed to get in there to inspect the brakes.

This puller I built did a fantastic job. I have to say though that I was cranking so hard on it for so long that I felt like the drum was going to come flying off when it finally broke free. Fortunately that didn’t happen. I did stand clear, however.

THREE lug nuts hold the wheels on. Yes, three. And a hub nut holds the brake drum. It gets torqued to about 250 ft lbs.

 

[Tgrasher]

Nothing like making your own special tool and it works. Good for you.

 

[JOCCO]

They are a unique little car.

 

[Steve in VA]

A little show and tell. I have a 1966 Citroën 2CV that I’m hopefully bringing back to life. Rear brake drums were stuck, beating on them didn’t work. Just needed to get in there to inspect the brakes.

This puller I built did a fantastic job. I have to say though that I was cranking so hard on it for so long that I felt like the drum was going to come flying off when it finally broke free. Fortunately that didn’t happen. I did stand clear, however.

THREE lug nuts hold the wheels on. Yes, three. And a hub nut holds the brake drum. It gets torqued to about 250 ft lbs. View attachment 154834
View attachment 154835

First: great job on "make a tool". Second: a 2CV is not exactly run of the mill and congratulations on having one. I'm looking forward to updates.

 

[RedMF40]

First: great job on "make a tool". Second: a 2CV is not exactly run of the mill and congratulations on having one. I'm looking forward to updates.

I’ve been looking for a while, finally found one locally for money I was willing to part with. Definitely a project. I have the cylinder heads back from the machine shop and also put in new piston rings. The motor was tired, but overall in good shape. If I come across a 602 cc engine I’ll probably do a swap. Mine has the 435 cc motor, I’ll be sure to stay off the interstates.

 

[RedMF40]

Nothing like making your own special tool and it works. Good for you.

Thanks, best part for me is I had all the pieces of scrap lying around. No trip to the hardware store.

 

[Stephen Newell]

gees, if it took that much pressure, is the drums salvageable? Usually when they are hard to get off the shoes have worn a groove into the drum.

 

[RedMF40]

gees, if it took that much pressure, is the drums salvageable? Usually when they are hard to get off the shoes have worn a groove into the drum.

Brake shoes looked almost brand new. The drums on these cars are notorious for being difficult to remove and are often stuck. Possibly because the hub nut is torqued so tight? Not a matter of just undoing the lug nuts and sliding the drum off. I’m learning as I go along.

 

[Dusty MI]

What car was it that the whole front was the door? The engine was in the rear?

 

[Steve in VA]

What car was it that the whole front was the door? The engine was in the rear?

BMW Isetta

 

[RedMF40]

What car was it that the whole front was the door? The engine was in the rear?

You’re probably thinking of the Isetta, made by BMW if I’m not mistaken. Small, maybe 200 cc engine.

 

[RedMF40]

BMW IsettaView attachment 154845

Oops you beat me to it. A local collector has one that he had restored to like-new condition. Said he found it on a W Virginia farm, they were banging around in the fields with it. When they rolled it they’d just get out and flip it upright again.

 

[Eman85]

I've got the old style hub puller made to pull drums and hubs like on an 8N or old Mopar. It's the HD one that you can hit with a hammer to turn. Usually they will lend you one at AutoZone.

 

[Ericp351]

Puts things in perspective. 1966. We had 10 years of v8 tbirds, 428 Ford galaxies, 2 years of affordable Mustangs, de finned Cadillacs, the GTO, et cetera. French had that!

 

[Russ from MN]

Congratulations! I used to make some special pullers when I was a millwright in a paper mill.

 

[RedMF40]

Puts things in perspective. 1966. We had 10 years of v8 tbirds, 428 Ford galaxies, 2 years of affordable Mustangs, de finned Cadillacs, the GTO, et cetera. French had that!

Ha! You think that’s the only car the French had? This model was also under the Citroen brand and was extremely competitive in motorsports. Citroën DS.

 

[Steve in VA]

Ha! You think that’s the only car the French had? This model was also under the Citroen brand and was extremely competitive in motorsports. Citroën DS.View attachment 154866View attachment 154866

Click and Clack observed that all French cars look like fish. I family growing up had a Renault Dauphine and it was a great little car.

 

[RedMF40]

I remember the Renault 5 was a terror on French roads in the 80s. Owners did all kinds of mods to the motor and suspension and it had a turbo version as well. They sold it here as “Le Car.” Just seemed like a typical underpowered Econo box, maybe they sent us a Watered-down version.

The standout feature of the 2CV is the suspension. It was designed to crawl over the worst country roads and keep all four feet on the ground. A local expert told me the designers expected a car to last about seven years. Pretty flimsy sheetmetal, prone to rusting out.

 

[Steve in VA]

I remember the Renault 5 was a terror on French roads in the 80s. Owners did all kinds of mods to the motor and suspension and it had a turbo version as well. They sold it here as “Le Car.” Just seemed like a typical underpowered Econo box, maybe they sent us a Watered-down version.

The standout feature of the 2CV is the suspension. It was designed to crawl over the worst country roads and keep all four feet on the ground. A local expert told me the designers expected a car to last about seven years. Pretty flimsy sheetmetal, prone to rusting out.

It appeared in some great movie scenes.

 

[Caryc]

BMW IsettaView attachment 154845

Steve Urkel's car.