How to Remove a STUCK Drum Brake

5 days later....

It's those brake shoes the culprit, drum brakes are notoriously stubborn to open sometimes

Bigger hammer!

Rookie

Thanks, Chris! I'm going to try this on my car now, the drums are so stuck they won't even budge.

I have an old Ford that's been sitting outside of the first owners home for years, I'm going to replace the hoses and basically the entire brake system, I can't get the drums off but I have some movement, it wiggles and I've made progress but it's still stubborn, I only have so much time in my schedule, but this video might help, thank you

Like a few others mentioned a claw hammer or ripping hammer. Isn't gonna do anything in giving it love? Taps like a key year old aint gonna cut it. And when it came down to it, the reason why it wouldn't come off. That the drum for probably shot. And they're grooved in the groove on the outside. Does kittens brake shoes? Which one you pull it off? What are you drawled out the holding apparatus? That's why if you go in back off the adjustment general, you don't come right off.

Add a link where I can get that hammer. ha ha ha ha.
If you know the brake shoes are the worthless problem.. put the tire back on, loosely with all lug nuts.. and KICK the tire with your hiking boots about 20 times. ALL, comes right off.

Make sure the brake is off? No I didn't leave the brake on... 😖

Thank you for your help was using air hammer to the dumb. Using hammer head then started cutting drum in half with the flat cut using air hammer.yes thank you again

As I watched day turn to night I knew this was a "real" and accurate video, been there

Ok very good thanks, perfect indeed. Thanks for taking the time to share.

Yeah I’m pulling the hammer what a waste of my time

I was shown that you put a link from a chain over a stud and using the chain like a short whip and snap it like a whip. Go from stud to stud and off it comes. It worked like a charm. I did protect the stud but man i was thrilled

Thanks for this video! 2001 subaru forester w/ one stuck drum. couldn't get adjuster to loosen brakes and was at my wits end. What a great idea, drilling out pins and disconnecting wheel cylinder! I thought i was going to have to cut it off...somehow...will be trying as soon as the rain lets up.

Yeah mine wont spin. I cant find anyone with a solution for if the brakes are actually locked.

its always amazing watching video from the past, you have come a long way Chris! i know you use hand tools to show it can be done, but wouldn't the air hammer be an effective tool for this job? im about rebuild a 73 f00 so i get to look forward to this job

After video Chris; l never do like this video again 😊

This is a ritual thank you ChrisFix🙏

Did you move the adjuster? The pads get caught on the lip that forms from wearing away the inner part of the drum.

glad i saw this. Im was catching hill trying to remove my drum. I shook it so much my truck fell off the jack.

I've had to take a torch. Heat the hell out of it and hit it with a big sledge hammer. I hate drum brakes.

June 2023: How about a 2009 Dodge Caliber with a frozen bearing. E-brake not set. Luckily, I'm on a gravel road so the wheel has reduced friction to "skid". Nice dirt streak in the yard too. lol

Good video. I noticed what looks like 240sx wheel?

6-10 hours to remove hub.

What if my drum doesn’t freely spin?

I hear seizure of brake tone of voice😢

“ If I had a hammer
I'd hammer in the morning
I'd hammer in the evening
All over this land
I'd hammer out danger
I'd hammer out a warning
I'd hammer out love between
My brothers and my sisters, ah-ah
All over this land “

with thanks from Lee Hays / Pete Seeger
🤣🤣😂😂👍👍

Thanks for making it real and showing all of the possible problems, mine is being very stubborn but now I won't give up 👍

This was so helpful

I give you an easy way to get that drum out
Drill a hole between 2 studs and then do the same in the opposite side of the 2 studs .... tap the 2 new holes to a 10mm bolts... put the 2 long 10mm bolt and tie the bolts until they hit the back end of the drum .. then keep tidying... the 2 bolts well push the drum away, and out

Thank you for showing people what real life drum changing looks like

I had to beat and beat mine and then beat a crowd bar in the back Crack and turn it around and around hitting equally

You can see the drum moving the first time it is wiggled so it was only being held by the brake shoes in the groove. Try one that is truly rusted on at the hub and inside. You probably spun your automatic tensioner the wrong way and pushed out the brake shoes instead of pulling them in. If you hear clicking while you are turning the adjuster it's the WRONG way.

For cars with drum break adjustment hole, just use a screwdriver to loosen it. No need to drill the pin out.

The torch is what worked for me . As it heated up there were a few popping sounds. From there I could work it off.

TNT and some dynamite! Works every time 🤣

I have removed the spring retainers, Tu bolted the wheel cylinder and used an air hammer and my drum still won’t come off, you have any other suggestions. The wheel will not turn either.

That is persistence! Good job and thanks

I had a hard time on my 4runner, just like that almost gave up.

Wonderful video. Helped me out immensely! Thank you!!

Why didn't you just stick a screwdriver and insert it into the hole on the back side and adjust the brake shoes so they are are the way compressed? Then the drum would just fall off. Would've taken 5 minutes.

thanks for starting with that emergency brake comment... lol

Everything you’re doing is correct , my only comment is you’re efforts are like a 4 out of 10 on each technique. Put some energy into it.
Instead of a cheap steel hammer , try a heavy brass hammer. Try an acetylene torch etc. I’d fire anyone who worked with such softness

get a puller, it works great

thank you for this great video

Most people that attempt auto mechanic work as diy don’t have the right tools. So this actually makes great info about how to get things done even if you are short a hub puller, air pressure, ball peen shop hammer, and other mechanical tools needed to do this quicker. Great work bro. This will help so many people. I’ve seen some of the. Eat auto body pros using claw hammers to pull studs and remove dents in half the time of others using correct tools. A tool is a tool. Using what you got accounts for the tenacity needed to work on Cars, period. Unless a professional and doing b J’s all day everyday . These jobs can sometimes take an entire afternoon to restore. Staying with it is the key. Never give up.

Get yourself 16 oz. and 32 oz. ball peen hammers and STOP using carpenter hammer! OMG! Armature! Carpenter hammer faces are brittle and when you strike them on metal the hammer can chip off with the force of a 22caliper bullet. Ball peen, (mechanic's), hammer are softer and won't chip. Don't make another video like this using a carpenter hammer. Sheesh!

aaaaah Chrisfix, shows you how to actually do stuff where the manual just states: "Remove the wheel drum"