Ok, so I now have some brake issues. I pulled out of my garage yeaterday to go to work and when I went to stop in the driveway my pedal went to the floor. So I got out and saw that there was a puddle of brake fluid where my left rear tire sat. So I got it back in the garage and left it sit until today. I believe that I blew a wheel cylinder as the fluid seems to be coming from inside the drum. Now I have backed off the brake shoes so that they are not against the drum but the drum will not budge from the hub. I have used a 2x4 and banged the drum between the lugs with a BFH after soaking it in wd-40. Is there any secrets that someone could share with me as an easier way to get this off? Thank you in advance.

I did do a search on this and didn't try the put it in drive and hit the brakes idea since I don't have any brake pressure back there I dont believe that it would help. Any ideas are greatly appreciated.

 

They should break loose,..
What happens is you develop a ridge on the outer edge
of the drum from the pads cutting into it. The pad on the shoe then
seats behind the ridge preventing you from sliding the
drum off. See if you can tighten the adjuster all the way,
drawing the shoes all the way in 1st. Then, try getting the
drums off.

 

Thanks JB. I gave up on it for a while because it was very frustrating. I'll go out and try and crank the shoes down some more. Hopefully that will work. I can't get it to budge at all up 'til now.

 

So I went out and tried to move the shoes farther away and I think i am limited out. Just started slipping rather than moving them anymore. So now I am back to being stumped. The truck does have 136,000 miles on it and this may still be the original set-up. I have not had them apart and I have had it since 101,000. Any other ideas would be great. I even decided to try the whole run the truck in neutral and slamming the brakes. But the back wheels wouldn't even stop at fulll pressure. Figure they probably wouldn't with a bad cylinder. I am at such a loss. Seems like any "easy" repairs on this truck become long drawn out repairs. LOL.

 

Bang on it with a heavy hamer so that most of the dust comes out, then pry the drum off with a big screwdriver. Your pads are shot anyways because of the brakefluid soaking into them so i would suggest changing the whole kit with cylinders. Don't forget to rectify your drums, that's the best way to change rear drumbrakes. If that doesnt work, try getting a very big pulley puller to pull the drum off.

 

Are you using a 5lb mini sledge hammer or bigger?, all i can say is beat the **** out of it ,even if you think your going to break something, Ive had to do this a few times, i just said **** it , if something breaks oh well~! and hammered on it till they broke loose.

 

Yeah, try to get in the back between the drum & pad and start prying.
A little at the top, beat on it then the same at the bottom.
I've yanked & pulled so hard and much I thought the truck would come off
the jack/stands! lol. Good-luck,.. You'll get them off.