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Brake drum removal on 98 Sierra

echo6

By echo6
in Ask A GM Technician

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echo6 New Member

echo6

Posted
Posted

I'm doing a brake job on my 98 Sierra and for the life of me I cant get the %#*&^& drums off. It feels like the drum is held on by some sort of spring clip( I can get the drum to pull off about 1/2 inch, but as soon as I let it go it snaps back into place).

 

Is their a trick to getting these off or am I just missing something?

 

Thanks in advance,

Sal

GM-Tech Senior Enthusiast

GM-Tech

Posted
Posted

The spring you're feeling is no doubt the springs that hold the brake shoes. The shoes may be so worn they've cause a goove and they're buried in it.

echo6 New Member

echo6

Posted
  • Author
Posted
The spring you're feeling is no doubt the springs that hold the brake shoes.  The shoes may be so worn they've cause a goove and they're buried in it.

 

 

 

 

 

Quite possible thats the case. If so, how do I get the drums off short of pulling out the "big blue wrench" and cutting them off amidst much smoke and flame?

 

Sal

GM-Tech Senior Enthusiast

GM-Tech

Posted
Posted

There should be a knockout plug in the drum I believe. Knock that out, then you can get two thin screwdrivers in there. You'll use one to hold the self-adjuster away from the star wheel and the other to back off the star wheel. If you're unsure which way to turn it, turn it first before holding off the adjuster lever. You'll only be able to turn it one way. You then want to turn it the other way once the lever is out of the way.

 

Sometimes a couple big screwdrivers between the backing plate and the drum can be used to leverage the drum off without doing the above. Depends on how badly the drum is chewed up.

echo6 New Member

echo6

Posted
  • Author
Posted
There should be a knockout plug in the drum I believe.  Knock that out, then you can get two thin screwdrivers in there.  You'll use one to hold the self-adjuster away from the star wheel and the other to back off the star wheel.  If you're unsure which way to turn it, turn it first before holding off the adjuster lever.  You'll only be able to turn it one way.  You then want to turn it the other way once the lever is out of the way.

 

Sometimes a couple big screwdrivers between the backing plate and the drum can be used to leverage the drum off without doing the above.  Depends on how badly the drum is chewed up.

 

 

 

 

 

Just tried the 2 big screwdrivers method. I can get it a little further off the backing plate but it hits a point where it just stops. It seems to be binding the worst about the 6 o'clock position.

 

Going to go try moving the adjuster back. If that doesn't work I'm going to try some C-4 :cheers:

 

Sal

echo6 New Member

echo6

Posted
  • Author
Posted

No-joy on a knockout. I think my neighbors would be very up-set with me if I used the high explosive method to remove the drum, so I'm going to ply a BMW mechanic with his favorite libation Monday evening & he will help me get it off( I hope!)

 

Thanks for the help GM-Tech. Once we get it off I'll post a reply to let you know how we ended up getting it off.

 

Sal

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