brakes Newbie Diy Tip # 432

[gliding_serpent2]

No diy will be as quick and easy as you think. Replacing your Tii brake drum? Remove the wheel and they should slide off just like the manual says. By slide i mean require hammering, cursing, oiling, prying, swearing, a caliper puller, rounding your brake shoe bolts, and much of your afternoon.

Tip #433: copper grease is your friend. Use it.

[roadhog0]

I have found that using a 3 jaw puller helps. Bastards can be on there good sometimes!! On a 320i I had I used that and a 6 foot cheater bar and when it came off it sounded like a 12 gauge! The 02 wasnt as hard to get off but damn loud when it popped! That's what happens when they stay on there for 20+ years...

[gliding_serpent2]

Seriously though, my drivers side rear drum is stuck. Penitrating oil, caliper puller, mallett, parking brake off, brake shoe bolts backed off (well, not one, i just rounded it.

Any pro tips that dont involve me buying and learning how to use a blow torch?

Something is fishy, the other drum slid off. This was replaced by another two years ago

Edited October 6, 2013 by gliding_serpent

[lilmo]

Buy and learn how to use a torch.  You will need it again, anyway.

[Mike Self]

One more trick...but do this VERY carefully. 

 

Loosen your lug nuts a couple of turns on the offending brake drum and drive a few feet--like up and down your driveway and apply the brakes several times.  No guarantee, but the wobble factor may be just enough to separate the drum from its hub.  May take several tries--and BE CAREFUL doing this so as not to booger anything up. 

 

That copper grease is also good to coat the mating surface of your alloy wheel and wheel hub.  Those dissimilar metals will fuse together too, making that tire change on the side of the freeway in a rainstorm much less pleasant!

 

mike

[gliding_serpent2]

Huge bar and it was off with a bang. Lucky for me my leg was in the way, so when it flew off (it was bending under my 2 arm puller) it didn't hit anything that could brake.

[gliding_serpent2]

Any pro tips to help me round off my stuck brake shoe adjusting bolt?

[lilmo]

Any pro tips to help me round off my stuck brake shoe adjusting bolt?

Use a crescent wrench, and loosen it a bit before you turn the adjuster.  Once it slips, grab some cheap pliers and keep at it.  Cuss at it a few times and it will be rounded off!

[roadhog0]

Heat and penetrating oil

[gliding_serpent2]

Heat and penetrating oil

What part do you heat? Not keen to soften it. I dont want the bolt polished, just round.

Has anyone been able to slip a box wrench on one of the forsaken things?

Edited October 7, 2013 by gliding_serpent