HELP - removing rear brake drums

[dzknmd1]

I have been a long time lurker on this site and I have learned a lot of valuable information. For example I will soon be taking the dash apart to replace the stinking recirculating actuator that seems to go bad in all of them. Without this site I would have been clueless about this.I currently own two base Vibes, an '03 that my son drives and an "07 that replaced my wife's Envoy. I think they are great little cars as they are very economical and can haul a lot for their size.I like to do as much of my own work as I can. I did the front brakes ('03) at 55000 miles with no problem but I have never been able to remove the rear drums to inspect the shoes. I am nearing 75000 now and I need to get to this. I have beat them with a 3 lb hammer. I have used WD40 ( I know it isn't the best penetrating oil) and I have tried to screw a bolt into the threaded holes and pulled the threads right out of the drums. These things are like they are welded on. I have not tried backing off on the adjusters but I would think they would at least loosen up a little without that. I am just before taking the thing in to get the rears done but I thought I would see if anyone here has any ideas first.

[ajflan]

Unfortunately, you are doing the right thing. You just have to beat them what seems like unnecessarily hard. Fortunatley, my uncle had some air powered hammer which worked really well. But yeah, just hit it harder.

[northvibe]

theres a tiny hole in the drum, you can actually put a bolt (that fits) and screw it in, it will push the drum off. thats how i got mine off and i found it here on the forum somewhere

[ColonelPanic]

I never could get mine off either... My dad and I both beat on the drums but they wouldn't budge. We gave up on 'em.

[Kamikaze]

Can you go to a local garage and ask them if they can get em loose for you?For probably 10 bucks they should do it. Explain to them everything you've tried first, then ask them how much to do it... if you just ask, then they try, and it sucks, and finally they get it off they might try to charge you more....(I work at a shop part-time, we've done things like this for customers)Sometimes just having it on a lift and being able to swing a hammer freely gets them loose.oh, and good luck!

[dzknmd1]

Yes, I tried that. I saw the post you referred to. It pulled the thread out of the drum. I don't think my bolt thread was exactly the right size though. If it had been I might have made it. Thanks for the reply.

[Kamikaze]

Dzknmd1 see my post above... looks like we were typing at the same time.

[dzknmd1]

Thanks, I'll try that one more time. I just don't want to break the drum.I was hoping someone could point out a retainer I am overlooking. I guess they are just rust-welded on there.

[Kamikaze]

I'm assuming you tried everything in this link (based on your first post)http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=26369if you did strip out those threads it should be able to be re-threaded (maybe a little larger) and then use different bolts...I don't believe there is any "hidden" retainer that holds it on.

[joatmon]

You may need to reach in from the back and de-adjust the shoes if there has been any significant drum wear, but since the shoses are held in with springs, you would be able to move the drum a little anyway if the shoes were the only thing holding the drum on.maybe try heat, like a propane torch, (or if you don't have one of those, drive it slow for a few miles with the parking brake on, that should heat things up ) hopefully expand the metal drum, make it easier to bust it loose. Don't burn yourself though. After you get the drums off, you might tap some new threads in the holes, but you'd have a hard time doing that with the drum still on the car.Perhaps take it to a brake shop for a "free inspection" then turn down any service they offer.

[dzknmd1]

Thanks for the link Kamikazee. That is the one I had seen before but I couldn't find it again. I will take the plastic disc to the store and get the proper bolts, and some real penetrating oil.