How to Remove a STUCK Drum Brake

How to remove a stubborn brake drum. Watch how to remove a brake drum that is stuck on. I go through the steps so anyone can remove their drum brake.
In this case the drum adjuster was stuck so first try to get it off by wiggling back and forth. Then spray penetrating oil to remove rust between the drum and the seat. Then hit it with a hammer hard. This should free the drum if it is just rusted on. If the drum doesn't come off, then your brakes are probably stuck open preventing the drum from coming off. If this is the case, cut or drill out the holding pins from the back (that hold the shoes in place) and remove the screws to the brake cylinder and then pull the drum off.

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Disclaimer:
Due to factors beyond the control of ChrisFix, I cannot guarantee against improper use or unauthorized modifications of this information. ChrisFix assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. Use this information at your own risk. ChrisFix recommends safe practices when working on vehicles and or with tools seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of ChrisFix, no information contained in this video shall create any expressed or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage, or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or from the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not ChrisFix.

[martymckay]

Started in the day light and still working past sunset! Such a trooper

[MrMariotwo]

It's about time somebody actually shows how long it takes to do something. I'm tired of seeing people taking things off so easily. They just want to make you feel inferior for not being able do it as quick as they do. You always run into time-consuming things that Don't go right when working on your car. Thanks Chris for showing the real-time it takes to do something. This took all day!

[robertvinscent]

VERY first step; Back off the adjustment on the shoes, then everything else you did.

[oliverjd]

Thank you for having the patience to do this video. It has greatly helped me with my brake drums this afternoon!!!

[armyreaper]

for one thing... dont use a claw hammer... use a Big hammer and hit it like it owes you money

[aydanangus]

Wow chris sounds cronical depressed in his older videos.

[godygody]

What I like from this video is that you never give up, look like it took some time but you finally did it 💥

[wiggyb]

You got more patience than me, I had to have a little laugh, you started with daylight and ended up with a light.😂

[jasosmurray]

I mean it was useful. It made me realize that I had my ebrake on

[demodemo]

Thank you for the transparency. You could’ve easily edited this video and made it look easy much appreciated

[karelstastnik]

Hi guys. As my experience goes in 95% of cases it is always break shoes issue. By the time the break shoes create a groove inside the drum break surface and as result they stuck wide open. Also it always leaves a kind of lip as Chris mentioned so it is almost impossible to pull the drum off. Try to adjust the break shoes and if it does not work use just brute force - it will come out. Sometimes there is one or two holes in the drum forehead with thread inside. You can use some old screw screwing in that hole while the screw pushes against the hub and pulling drum of the hub.

[toddmayer]

I had a local shop replace my brake shoes about 6 years ago. I wish he had watched your video! He told me he tried a long pry bar and could not get the drums off. He said he spent 8 hours on the brakes, but being the "nice" guy he was, only charged me for 4 hours. He used a cutting torch to get the drums off. I happened to see your video after he had done the work ... and charged me $800. I need my truck for work, so it was like he was keeping my truck hostage. If he had drilled out the pins as you did, the drums would have come off. Needless to say, I am doing all the brake work on my truck. Shoes last a long time, but they are due to be replaced so I'm doing all the research needed. Thanks much for your helpful info!

[hualni]

This is probably a small thing, but I appreciate the fact you don't use foul language in your videos. So many people do, and it is so unnecessary. This looked like a total bear to complete, and you did it with class. Kudos! I can't wait to see new videos.

[anonmous]

don't you hate that?? you working on the car and don't finish before night time.

[rustytrident]

Man respect for being so calm hours later in the video just to take a drum brake off. I would of been yelling at the camera😂

[bobfortner]

Thank you, I just came in from outside trying to get my back drum off to replace everything, and no luck. The star adjuster is stuck and there seems to be a bit of a lip on the drum so it is not letting the drum come off. So I came in to look on YouTube for an answer, and you gave it to me! Thank you, very much!

[DorkyThorpy]

Woah, that looked like a battle man, well done for sticking at it.

[chrisfix]

You can rent a puller from any of the major parts stores and save you the pain of getting the drum off. If you cant get the puller, then definitely try this! Let me know how it goes!

[MrBigfigga]

It's so funny watching his videos from 7 years ago and then from recently. He's so much more melancholy in his old videos. Then his new ones he's super upbeat and excited 😆

[johngoldsberry]

I've been working on cars for 45 years and I never drilled the anchor pins out