Went out and took wheel off, wanted to look at rear break shoes. Replaced front pads and just wanted to look at rear shoes. Ended up finding that the chrome cover came off two of the lug nuts. On the normal undamaged nuts with chrome cover still on, it used a 3/4 socket and that is what was also in trucks tire changing kit, I was using air wrench. The nuts that lost their chrome cover I had to use 11/16 socket. So now I am carrying a 1/2 breaker bar with 11/16 socket added to tire changing kit.

Question is do they make a lug net that will be the standard 3/4 without that darn chrome cover that seems to like to come off? I don't even care if it chrome or not, but you would think they would make a chrome plated one?

Never did get the drum off, will try later with some penetrating spray and torch. I have had problems with granddaughter's Focus with these same stupid type of lug nuts. I bought her some new ones and cover came off within minutes, found it in driveway, told her to keep in glovebox and slip over nut if need changing.

Doesn't seem a good design!

 

I had this problem with my Durango I had years ago. I JB welded the caps on. You're almost in better luck if you can get them to come off on your own terms and fix them instead of losing them on the road. I can't remember if I ever found any solid ones or not, but if I did, I didn't buy them cause of the price. yeah its pretty dumb




damn, maybe it was epoxy now. it was a whole ago. might wanna look into what works ok on that plastic

 

I purchased a set of new ones, 3/4".

 

Yeah, you just go to your local tire store and tell them what you want. You'll have 20 in hand before you can say boo.

Also, don't use penetrating oil on your drum. If you contaminate the shoes with petroleum based stuff, you'll be very unhappy with the results. Whack it with a rubber mallet to break the rust loose, or use a brass hammer on the stud ends and axle center.

 

I had a hard time finding ones (in store) that would seat my aluminum wheels right. Don't settle for close is close

 

Monday I am going over to where I bought tires the tires for my free rotation. Will ask them for some lug nuts without stupid cover. I gave up on drum for the day, need to go over to where I can use acetylene torch. I have heard of taking both rear wheels off, put on a couple lugs nut loosely, have jack stands, start and put in drive, hit breaks a few times and drum will come loose. Doesn't really sound like a good idea.

 

Did you loosen the adjuster? You will have to do this to get the drum off. I actually had to make a slide hammer to get the drum off my 2500! Even with the adjuster backed all the way off the shoes would not let go of the drum(lip on the inside from wear).

 

No I didn't, there are no plugs where the adjusters should be. It does look like there are two knock outs? But if they really are knockouts, they have never been out and replaced with rubber plug. This truck has 194,000, I got it at around 152,000 miles, replaced front pads and rotors, but never looked at rear.

 

Just like my truck. When I did the brakes, it looked, to me, like you really couldn't even knock out that area. Although it looks recessed on the outside, it looks solid on the inside.

 

I decided not to try knocking them out, there is not a big rush, just wanted to look at the shoes.