Soft brake pedal...

[Tools R Us]

Any tips at getting the drums off when they are stuck? I cant tell if they are stuck on the shoes or on the inside where it touches the hub.

If stuck on the shoes, the drum/axle is hard to turn, shoes dragging on the drum. If the drum is badly warn, there can be a lip on the edge that can catch the shoes. Most times it's debris/rust at the drum to axle mount. I cleanup the exposed part of the axle, then hammer on the drum. Hammering vibration loosens the rust, it can be hit pretty hard, enough to ring the drum, but not dent it. I start with a big punch around the studs, pounding in on it, then hit the outside of the drum, turn the drum a bit, hit, repeat, every couple of inches around the drum. Most times this will loosen them up.

 

[1BADAWD]

Well good news/bad news. Good news... we got the driver's side drum off, needs a wheel cylinder(leaks) and a new drum(bell shaped on inside, has lip). Bad news... still couldnt get the passenger rear off. We adjusted the shoe(s?) in a crap ton and the drum still would catch on them. We used longer bolts, and one of the holes stripped out. We tapped out the hole and tried diff bolts and it stripped again and even a part of the drum on the edge of the hole broke off. So any other ways of gettin a drum off?

On another note... the reason i added the (s?) after shoe was becuz by the looks of it, when pullin the drum out as far as we could get it, that there is only ONE shoe on that side.

 

[1BADAWD]

Anything guys?

 

[raydouble]

Well good news/bad news. Good news... we got the driver's side drum off, needs a wheel cylinder(leaks) and a new drum(bell shaped on inside, has lip). Bad news... still couldnt get the passenger rear off. We adjusted the shoe(s?) in a crap ton and the drum still would catch on them. We used longer bolts, and one of the holes stripped out. We tapped out the hole and tried diff bolts and it stripped again and even a part of the drum on the edge of the hole broke off. So any other ways of gettin a drum off?

On another note... the reason i added the (s?) after shoe was becuz by the looks of it, when pullin the drum out as far as we could get it, that there is only ONE shoe on that side.

Leaking wheel cylinder will definitely give you a soft pedal, you've got to get that drum off to do anything else though, get creative.

Was the "one shoe" on the leaking wheel cylinder side?
There has to be two shoes in there......more likely it is stuck on the lip of the drum.
Push/pound drum back on and back off star wheel as much as possible.....lube up hub the drum slides over. You should be able to get it off with only one bolt and a hammer.

......sounds like you need new rear shoes and drums.

 

[black95]

I'm the first one to do all my work myself.......but I'm really starting to think this brake repair is out of your skill level. Brakes are nothing to be messed around with and you don't want to get yourself or someone else hurt over a brake job that will only set you back a couple of hundred dollars. It's just not worth it.

I'm trying to reason and be nice, but if you can't get the drums off, you need to seek the help of a professional. Maybe you can go to the local brake shop and offer one of the techs some money to help you on the side? Get some help, please. There's no shame in that, I had help on my first drum brake job too.

 

[1BADAWD]

Leaking wheel cylinder will definitely give you a soft pedal, you've got to get that drum off to do anything else though, get creative.

Was the "one shoe" on the leaking wheel cylinder side?
There has to be two shoes in there......more likely it is stuck on the lip of the drum.
Push/pound drum back on and back off star wheel as much as possible.....lube up hub the drum slides over. You should be able to get it off with only one bolt and a hammer.

......sounds like you need new rear shoes and drums.

The leakin wheel cylinder was on the other side. But not sayin the stuck side might not have one too.

I might take the truck to my dad's friend shop maybe this week to see if he cna do it cheap. If not by the next weekend, ill try again myself. I know how to do it between me and my buddy. Just that damn drum is being a p.i.t.a. lol.

 

[alteredraptor]

for those who arent aware... im the buddy bein referenced

 

[1BADAWD]

Ok bringing this thread back to life, becuz well its back again. Last tuesday i was driving and had to brake fairly hard, not stomp and lock up, but harder than normal. In the process of..., i felt the pedal jus drop a few inches, like a wheel cylinder or line blew. Still brakes, but not til full travel and very lil pedal pressure. wheel cylinders are fine, cant see any leakage by master, brake booster is still newish from a few months ago that i replaced it. Pads, calipers, hardware, and shoes were all replaced last summer/fall as well. What can it be this time?

 

[raydouble]

I'd check all your brakes and brake lines, but it could be internal to the master cylinder. No leak, just won't generate/hold the correct pressure.

Those are my first thoughts.