How do I get a seized drum off?

gnx547 · 06-26-2009, 10:34 AM

On my 96 escort the driver side rear drum is seized. It won't turn at all and yes the parking brake is released. What would cause the shoe to get seized into the drum? I'm guessing maybe the parking brake cable ? But it works well. How do I get this seized drum off?

theoldwizard · 06-27-2009, 06:45 AM

First, smack it good and hard with a hammer, on the sides, not the face.

If the drum still won't turn you need to back off the star adjuster through the slot in the backing plate (covered by a rubber plug). It requires both a brake adjusting lever to crank the star wheel backwards and a screwdriver to lift the pawl that prevents the star from being turned backwards.

And of course the understanding of what I am talking about !

Intuit · 06-27-2009, 08:19 AM

Near the inner circumference of the drum, there should be a few threated holes. Fitting the proper diameter and thread bolt in there, you can gradually press the drum off of the hub. Use all available threaded holes simultaneously and gradually increment each bolt in turns.

Before doing this of course, you should be sure that you can at least turn the wheel. Otherwise you may just end up stripping out the threads.