Releasing Brake Drum

Thanks for the tips guys. Beating the drums with a heavy hammer seemed to do the trick! They can certainly play a tune. One came away quite easily, within a couple of minutes of beating. The other I had to soak a couple of times in penetrating fluid and took about 40 mins.

My setup was different to others where I've seen write ups. I've got no shoe retainers as such, just a fixed bracket at the bottom of the shoes. I struggled to get the first new set of shoes in. After about an hour of trying all sorts, I reverted to my trusty 8ft 2x4 which was able to exert just the right amount of pressure in two directions at once and the job was a good un straight away. Sort of pushing back and in at the same time to hook the shoes around the bracket. The otherside went in right away, now I know the trick

I also found a small cable tie useful to keep the top spring in place whilst the shoes were moved into the first position prior to hookup, otherwise the spring was falling out.

The old drums were in very good condition. No scoring, just clean metal where the shoes were, and they weighed much more than the replacements. I'll be cleaning them up and keeping them as spares.

I've not been for a test run yet, but I'm looking forward to it. Early signs are good. Brake pedal feels firmer and the brake warning light does not come on any more when you hit the brakes hard (mine has the pressure difference warning valve thing).

Applied Hammerology ... I got a degree in that

Me and my old man once came up against a very stubborn drum on his Fiat so following a morning of traditional methods he ended up winding an cooker old hob element around it, wound on a couple of tons on with the pullers, gave the element 240v and went in for lunch. Time we came out it was laying on the garage floor!

Oldseadog said:

Applied Hammerology ... I got a degree in that

Click to expand...

Finally found something I'm good at I was very careful with my hammering though, it would be all too easy to hit a stud!

blackstrat said:

Me and my old man once came up against a very stubborn drum on his Fiat so following a morning of traditional methods he ended up winding an cooker old hob element around it, wound on a couple of tons on with the pullers, gave the element 240v and went in for lunch. Time we came out it was laying on the garage floor!

Click to expand...

Ingenious.

I'm a bit stuffed for a test run today though. I need a 1/8" NPT blanking bolt for my oil sandwich plate and they seem to be like rocking horse ****. No problem to get online but can't find anyone who stocks them locally. I could remove the plate temporarily and refit later in the week, but I don't want to interfere with it as it seals perfectly.

I found a local hydraulics company this morning that were able to supply me with the bolt - always good to make contacts like this

Braking is now phenomenal. I guess when they deteriorate over time, you just don't notice. Also, pressure warning light is extinguished, so no more red lights.

So far this has been my favourite job on the landy as the effects are so apparent and the improvement is so great.

A picture of my leaky cylinder. Forgot to take another after I replaced them all.