I had a stud break off on my rear axle and I cant get the drum off to replace it. It just seems that it is hung up on the shoes but I can't seem to adjust them inward so I can remove the drum. Anybody have any hints on how to remove the drum. I haven't been inside this thing so a diagram or manual would be cool too.

Kinda want to get it up and running again today.

thanks,

arndog

First, If it is a FF, make sure you have all of the retaining nuts and the bearing out. If the drum turns and it ids getting hung up on a ridge, you can walk it off by tapping the edge ( around the backing plate) with a hammer Don't hit it too hard. If that doesn't work, yard it off somehow and replace shoes and hardware cause they may not survive

DOH!!! I just re read your post and realized something. The adjuster has an arm against it to prevent it from backing off. If you can only get the adjuster to turn one way, stick a screwdriver thru the slot ant feel for the arm. It will have some tension on it. Push on the arm with the screwdriver and use another to back off the adjuster. If it doesn't turn at all, go to my previous post. Then machine the drums.

yup, back the adjuster arm off, then grab a BIG rubber mallet and criss-cross your way around the drum.

If that doesn't work, a piece of wood and a 4-5 pound sledge works well (that is how mine usually come off)

after that, how ever you can:D

use a big ass hammer:flipoff2:

what year is it?? i'm guessing if it's pre '85 you got the big hub nuts out.. if it's 85 and up it just bangs off.. then if u got to adjust the shoes..

Hey Arndog, when did ya put a 14 bolt in the cruiser? Or is this the tow rig? I am sure you know about pulling the axle shaft and the nuts off the spindle. Then like the guy said earlier there is a plate that rests at an angle against the teeth of the adjuster. Just stick a long skinny screwdriver in there and use another to spin the adjuster back until the drum is loose. Unless the rig has been sitting this will work. You can even see the plate with a flashlight. It works the same on 12 bolts and 10 bolts and d44s. Almost all rigs with drums are similar. Good luck and talk to ya soon.

Sean its on a burb. Should work nicely pulling the cruiser. Or Ill strip as it was only 500 bucks. Thanks for all the help guys it was the little arm stopping the wheel. I used a skinny rod to push it away from the wheel and no problem. With all the brakes ive done I should have known that arm exists since I think there is one on every chevy brake application.

Afternoon wasted due to les schwab doesn't make me very happy. They forgot to put a lug nut on and the stud ended up vibrating back inside the brake drum stopping the burb. Now I just have to prove that I was them and somehow find a way to get some retribution (they charge 60 bucks just to inspect rear brakes on it).

thanks again guys.

arndog

You will have a hard time with that one. The stud should be pressed in and not come out unless its with a hammer. I bet there gonna fight it.