Brake drum removal

[Ed Soper]

OK, must admit I'm a bit out of my element, BUT, I am going to install new brake shoes on jmy old 8 N Ford....However. I removed the wheel.. Removed the lock nut.. NOW what next to get the drum off ??? HELP....

 

[Devious]

I just adjusted the brakes off to the loose side and the drums came off with a little mallet work and push pull. Ya Tink?, The brake shoes need to be away from the drum and the adjuster will do that for you. Devious

 

[Bruce (VA)]

You need to remove the screws.

There are four ways that I’ve used to remove the brake drum screws & all four worked for me.

1.Soak the screws overnight w/ PB Blaster. Use a hand-held impact driver & a BF hammer. If they don’t come out in 2 or 3 whacks, move on to the next method of removal or you will break the bit. They will come out this way only if someone else took them out in the last 10 years or so.

2. Get a cold chisel & the BF hammer. Put the tip of the chisel on one side of the screw slot & hit it w/ the hammer in a direction that will turn the bolt counter clockwise (unscrewing it).

3. Put the chisel in the screw slot & hold it there w/ vice grips. Have a very good friend swing a BFH and hit the end of the chisel while you have pressure to back the screw out on the vice grips, counter clockwise (unscrewing it).

4. Put a cold chisel in the appropriate size socket, put the socket on your air impact wrench go to it using the chisel like a screw driver.



Having used all four methods, I just skip ahead to # 4. I’ve never had to drill them out, but some folks have.



I disagree w/ the popular belief that the screws were installed to keep the drum on the tractor while it was on the assembly line. If the purpose of the screws was to hold the drum on, they didn't need 4 of them. For that matter, one lug nut would have worked. And, to keep the drum on when you removed the wheel, clips are (were) used. You need to replace at least two of them. The design of the braking system requires centering the drum & the screws do that. Otherwise, only part of the shoe will contact the drum. I found replacements at the local hardware store: 3/8-16 x ¾ flat head stove bolts. Put plenty of Never-Seize on them.
50 Tips

 

[Bruce (VA)]

I think he will find it easier to get the drum off if he removes the screws......wadda you think?

 

[Devious]

I don t disagree but I just went out in the garage and mad sure I was not crazy but I never took any screws out. I just backed the shoes off with the adjuster and took the axle nut and washer off and the lug nuts and pulled the drum off with the screws still holding the whatchamycallit that goes on the axle. I can work on them screws a lot better on the bench and vise. Just me tho. I am not an expert on nothin. I sure wouldn t like bendin over tryin to chisel them d--med screw heads tho. I would not last 5 minutes. It would be grandson time. Just my thoughts. Devious

 

[Devious]

That thing I called the whattchamaycallit is probably called the Hub in more enlightened circles. BUT truly I just left the drum screwed to the hub and pulled the hub right off with a little mallet and hand persuasion. Devious

 

[Bob]

Dev,

Your hubs and/or axles must be worn 'cause if they are in good condition and the big nut wuz TIGHT those hubs ain't gonna come off without a BIG puller.

 

[Devious]

I reckon you might be right. I did not ask as I was beatin on that big two inch nut trying to get it loose. The on e on the other side was so tight I had to drill it and chisel it to get it of but the screws were still in when I slid the thing off. Just one of those things I guess. Sometimes I am confused about how things work out also. But then, I don t make the rules. But I do understand what you mean. Devious

 

[Ed Soper]

Devious,

I did as you suggested. Loosened the adjustment on the shoe gave it about 1/2 dozen whacks with BAH and Walla.
Thanks ever so much

Ed

 

[Devious]

Well Ed I am proud of you. You used your head and walla it worked. Maybe next time it won t tho and you will have to chew those screwa out, yu betcha. But try the easy way first OK. Devious

 

[Anonymous-0]

Bruce, I suspect you're correct concerning the screws on the drum. I work in a modern truck plant and we simply use one lug nut on drum (hub on front knuckle set) to secure it through Frame assembly to "wheel on" area. Works well, it"s simple and probably the approach Mr. Ford used.