removing the rear drum on Windstar '95

[newbie321]

Hi, all:

how do you guys remove the rear drum off that has rusted and fused.

I followed a number of recommendation and none worked because I think it is fused really bad.

1) Chiltons repair manual suggests that if the drum is fused then I would need to remove the rubber plug in the back of the wheel and turn the adjuster with the screwdriver. I am pretty sure this method works...but not here.

2) anohter suggestion was to use a hammer and induce transient shock waves in order to loosen up drum. I did not hit the drum very hard being afraid that I may crack it, but hard enough....well it did not work.

I just read the following suggestion:
----Take a hammer and hit the drum as hard as you can on the edge or shoulder. Don't be afraid to cause any damage as long as you hit it on the shoulder. The drum pops out, and all you have to do now is slide it off.

But I am afraid that with that much force it may crack the drum.
so I have two questions:

1) what exactly is defined as a shoulder of the drum brake?

2) What do you do when brake drum fuses other parts. ?

Thank you,

[jr78]

I have had best luck hitting the drum between the wheel studs. You can use a screw driver and put it between the drum and backing plate to put some tension on the drum while you hit too. You may end up cracking the drum before you get it off so check it carefully but I don't think a replacement is that expensive. You can also try heating the drum.

[newbie321]

Hi, guys:

Just wanted to update you on my progress on removing the rear drum.

So....after hitting it with the hammer, applying penetrating oil etc and not being successful, I ended up renting a three prong brake puller. The tension was crazy adn I thought that either puller will break or slip off. But at the end the brake drum came off!!!

...As you are tensioning the puller, make sure you continue tapping the drum with the hammer and when I say tap...I mean hit the drum liberally.