Okay, my '84 3.73/posi/disc axle blew the center, so I put in a junkyard axle, from an '88 Camaro 2.8. I can't get the blippin' drum off the passenger side!! When I first got the axle, neither drum would come off. I backed the shoes off of both, used a ton of penetrant, etc. I figured "hell with it", and just put the axle on, figuring the drums needed some heat/vibration from driving to loosen up.

Well, yesterday, both were still frozen. I backed the shoes off again, and managed to knock the driver's side one free. Ever notice how the holes in the drum are a bit overdrilled for the axleshaft studs? Well, I put penetrant all over the place (again), and put the five lugs back on. Then I used a hammer to smack the lug nuts sideways; in order to make the axleshaft hub move independantly of the drum. It worked; I got the driver's side drum off.

But the passenger one is still STUCK on there!!! What the hell do I have to do to get it off? I finally "had it", and started smacking the crap out of the drum with a hammer... and it wasn't a friendly smacking, either. It still seems to be frozen to the axleshaft.

Any ideas?? The e-brake cable on that side is messed up; I need to replace it, and I don't even know what kind of brakes are under that drum! I'm half ready to just pull the rear cover, remove the differential's lock bolt & pin, and remove the axleshaft, with the drum still attached. Although, last time I tried that, I snapped the lock bolt in half. I really don't want to do that... I don't want to touch the center section at all.

Any hints? Please?

Oh- and I backed the shoes off on that problem drum so far that the adjustment screw bottomed out. There was absolutely no drag on the drum as I spun it. Even if I put a hand on each side of the drum, and push with one hand while I pull with the other, nothing moves. Grrr...

 

I had the same problem on a 86 firebird that I had. I solved the problem by soaking the drum in oil overnight. Just put the oil in something and set it up so the drum is in the oil, check back later, should be able to get it off.

 

BIG Rubber hammer.. whack it alot hehehehehe

 

Or a real big slide-hammer.The extra-large one that Harbor Freight sells ($45 made in China)]
works pretty good.Destroys all the springs and pins in the process.
Sometimes brute force is all that'll work.
-Rich-

 

I don't really have to worry about snapping any springs; the shoes aren't touching the drum at all from the inside. How would I rig up the slide hammer though? Make braces to grab the drum from the back?

Oh and ISR_NITROus, if a big steel hammer won't work, a big rubber hammer won't do anything- except maybe bounce back and hit me in the face!

 

The big slide hammer comes with l-shaped and hook type ends.I just hooked into the edge of the drum and started beating.Once it moves a little,change position 180 degrees and start whacking again. It's brutal, but it works.
-Rich-

 

Oh! Yeah, duh, I didn't think of going after one edge at a time. Good idea. I thought you meant to grab the whole drum! (laughs)