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What is a very large drum?

How do you remove the rear brake drum on a 95 dodge ram?

  • I have a 95 dodge ram - 1500 - 360 - 4wd. I changed some brake lines, then went to bleed the brakes and realized a bleeder screw was broken off, so I had to get a new wheel cylinder. So now I'm trying to change the wheel cylinder, I have the driver side rear wheel off, and I cannot remove the brake drum. It is very rusty. I've been stuck at this point for over 3 hours now. I've used penetrating oil around the axle, and a large hammer to knock it from every angle, but it will not budge at all. I found this online relating to removing the hub on a 96 dodge ram. "Locate the adjuster hole in the backing plate from the rear of the brakes. Insert a small, thin screwdriver into the hole and wedge it between the adjusting lever and the star wheel just inside the hole. Pry the star wheel down with a brake spoon to loosen the brake shoes." Ok, so I see the adjustor hole in the back plate, but I don't have a "brake spoon", and I'm nervous about sticking a screwdriver in there and prying around. I thought that adjustment was for the actual brake shoes, and not to hold on the drum. Can someone please tell me what I need to do? Is that adjustment keeping the brakes tight which is preventing me from pulling the drum off? I wouldn't think they would be tight because the wheel will spin in neutral. I've watched youtube videos and researched all over the net, and I don't know what else to do to get this drum off. What really sucks is I have no other vehicle, and have to be at work tomorrow. Any ideas? Suggestions? Please help.

  • Answer:

    to get the drum off, the brake drum HAS to spin freely in circles AND the shoes cant have ANY contact with the drum surface, Also the pads cant be so worn that they are actually digging a groove into the drum. This is the problem that you're having and the pads are what's keeping the drum stuck on the axel. There's no EASY way to get it off ! OK. You can do is... what you described (loosen the adjuster wheel) or you can get a puller and rip it off of the axel. Either way you go, it's gonna take time AND you still gotta replace the wheel cylinder. So start by seeing about getting a ride to work tomorrow and doing this repair the right way.

George at Yahoo! Answers Visit the source

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Ok, so I see the adjustor hole in the back plate, but I don't have a "brake spoon", and I'm nervous about sticking a screwdriver in there and prying around. I thought that adjustment was for the actual brake shoes, and not to hold on the drum. You can use a second screwdriver instead of a brake spoon. And yes, it does adjust the shoes, but if they are tight against the drum, obviously the drum won't come off, so back off the adjustment until it does.

oklatom

Stick the screwdriver in and turn the adjuster wheel stop being a nervous Nelly. Got a cold one? I'll be over in a minute to coach you.

Bluto B

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