The Ford Barn

richard rink · 10-06-2016, 10:00 AM

I need to install a new wheel cylinder in the driverside rear brake on my '53, but I can't figure out how to remove (pull?) the drum. The shop manual doesn't provide enough information, and searches on the web haven't been successful. Please advise. Thanks. Richard

RalphG · 10-06-2016, 10:05 AM

If they are like the drums on my 52 Merc they were no problem. Little springy clip thing on several of the wheel bolts had to be pried/turned off. Back off the brake shoes and pull the drum off by hand.
Now if we were talking 39 Ford... well I don't want to talk about that.

tubman · 10-06-2016, 10:50 AM

Ralph is right of course. You may not be familiar with non-self-adjusting brakes. If you're not, there is a horizontal slot on the bottom of each backing plate that may or may not have a rubber plug in it. There is a star wheel inside that expands or contracts the bottom of the shoes. There is a special brake adjusting tool that is used to do this. It kind if looks like a big bent screwdriver without a handle. You use it to catch the star wheel and move the handle of the tool upwards to expand the shoes, and downwards to retract them. (I may have that backwards, but you'll be able to tell soon enough). Sometimes you can use a regular screwdriver if you don't have the tool.

You should learn how to do this, because you will have to adjust the brakes after you replace them. Also, you could have lucked out and the brakes just need to be adjusted tighter.

If you don't have a brake adjusting tool, do NOT buy one. Everybody I know that is into old cars has at least three, at least one of which they will gladly give away!

Charlie Stephens · 10-06-2016, 11:12 AM

Be sure the emergency brake is off (that is to say not applied).

Charlie Stephens

V8 Bob · 10-06-2016, 11:27 AM

If the drums are free of the shoes and can turn, they are probably rusted onto the axle, and have to be removed by carefully using a hammer between the studs and axle register, and/or applying heat, while hand pulling on the outer rim of the drums. A little penetrating oil will also help.

richard rink · 10-06-2016, 12:05 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by V8 Bob

If the drums are free of the shoes and can turn, they are probably rusted onto the axle, and have to be removed by carefully using a hammer between the studs and axle register, and/or applying heat, while hand pulling on the outer rim of the drums. A little penetrating oil will also help.

Rust may be the issue. The drum is free of the shoes but seems to be solidly fixed to the axle. I'll start with penetrating oil.

10-06-2016, 10:00 AM	#1
richard rink Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: louisville ky Posts: 91	removing rear brake drum on '53 ford I need to install a new wheel cylinder in the driverside rear brake on my '53, but I can't figure out how to remove (pull?) the drum. The shop manual doesn't provide enough information, and searches on the web haven't been successful. Please advise. Thanks. Richard __________________ twodeuces

10-06-2016, 10:05 AM	#2
RalphG Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Sask. Canada Posts: 2,424	Re: removing rear brake drum on '53 ford If they are like the drums on my 52 Merc they were no problem. Little springy clip thing on several of the wheel bolts had to be pried/turned off. Back off the brake shoes and pull the drum off by hand. Now if we were talking 39 Ford... well I don't want to talk about that. __________________ https://www.youtube.com/user/roosty6/videos

10-06-2016, 10:50 AM	#3
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 10,316	Re: removing rear brake drum on '53 ford Ralph is right of course. You may not be familiar with non-self-adjusting brakes. If you're not, there is a horizontal slot on the bottom of each backing plate that may or may not have a rubber plug in it. There is a star wheel inside that expands or contracts the bottom of the shoes. There is a special brake adjusting tool that is used to do this. It kind if looks like a big bent screwdriver without a handle. You use it to catch the star wheel and move the handle of the tool upwards to expand the shoes, and downwards to retract them. (I may have that backwards, but you'll be able to tell soon enough). Sometimes you can use a regular screwdriver if you don't have the tool. You should learn how to do this, because you will have to adjust the brakes after you replace them. Also, you could have lucked out and the brakes just need to be adjusted tighter. If you don't have a brake adjusting tool, do NOT buy one. Everybody I know that is into old cars has at least three, at least one of which they will gladly give away! Last edited by tubman; 10-06-2016 at 11:35 AM.

10-06-2016, 11:12 AM	#4
Charlie Stephens Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern California Posts: 7,032	Re: removing rear brake drum on '53 ford Be sure the emergency brake is off (that is to say not applied). Charlie Stephens

10-06-2016, 11:27 AM	#5
V8 Bob Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Granger (Northern) Indiana Posts: 1,520	Re: removing rear brake drum on '53 ford If the drums are free of the shoes and can turn, they are probably rusted onto the axle, and have to be removed by carefully using a hammer between the studs and axle register, and/or applying heat, while hand pulling on the outer rim of the drums. A little penetrating oil will also help.