Getting a drum off

[flyboy2610]

This actually pertains to my wife's 92 Topaz, but at least it's a Ford product.
I am trying to get the drums off the rear of her car but cannot get the shoes to retract. I have tried everything to get them to retract. The hole in the backside of the backing plate is so dinky it's hard to get two screwdrivers in there at all, let alone have any room to work.
I do not plan to save the drums, so is there any way to get them off? They are cast iron, correct? What if I smacked 'em real good with a sledge hammer? Would they break?

[jor]

Make sure your e-brake is disengaged fully.

You shouldn't need to use two screwdrivers to back off the shoes from the drums. One will do. Even better, buy a brake adjusting tool (looks like an offset screwdriver) from the auto store. They're only a dollar or two. Stick it in there and start clicking.

If the drum is still too tight, I usually put a 2X4 on it and start smacking it with a heavy hammer all around its circumference. I guess if you don't care about the drums you could hit the drum directly.

It might help to squirt some penetrating oil at the base of the studs as sometimes the drum sticks there.

Take heart, you will succeed.
jor

[flyboy2610]

Never mind
Job done.
Don't ask how I got them off and I won't tell you stories that'll give you nightmares ! :twisted:

[jor]

Flyboy,
Now you gotta tell us how you got them off.
jor

[FORDification]

No kidding! I'm always up for a good horror story!

[willowbilly3]

I have a small skinny screwdriver that is bent just enough, and I use it to push in past the adjuster wheel and disengage the adjuster lever. Otherwise you are trying to back the wheel off against the adjusting arm and it is very difficult. Plus it usually ends up messing up the adjuster wheel teeth or the adjusting lever, whether you get it to back off or not

[flyboy2610]

It's amazing what can be done with a 4-1/2" angle grinder and a metal cutting blade in a circular saw. :twisted:

[jor]

I wish you had a couple of photos of that operation! So were the shoes just welded onto the drums or what?
jor