Strange brake problem

[Kory Fox]

I asked this several years ago when I was first working on the car. Noone seemed to have an answer so I thought I'd ask again. Back when I first took the car apart. The body shop had the body and I brought the chassis back home. I bought all new wheel cylinders and brake shoes from Ron Meditz. I had a ton of trouble getting the drum off of one wheel. The others all came off easy. When putting it back together, I had ton of trouble putting the drum back on. The shop needed the chassis back so I forced it back on and figured I'd deal with it later. I had the adjuster all the way in. Some people suggested the linings may be too thick. But why would I have so much trouble getting it off with the old shoes. And why only the one wheel? It's so tight that you cannot turn the drum by hand. You can push the car but it takes more than just me to do it.

[dpledger]

A couple of things come to mind, more axle than drum related at least for the hard turning part.  Have you checked the axle end play? This is controlled by shims, and it is possible to get it too tight. Another possibility is a warped wheel bearing that is turning hard.

It is difficult for shoes to stick out so far that they drag enough to make drum installation difficult. Usually this is due to some other component that isn't in quite the right position. Is the handbrake mechanism pulling on them? Is the whole shoe assembly centered? These are all things that I have had happen at one time or another.

[BobWolterbeek]

Check the brake cylinders. I had the same problem. I replaced the wheel cylinders and cleaned out the brake fluid line. I also cleaned the brake drums and all the parts inside them and lightly sanded the axle (with 1000 grit sand paper)this solved the problem. I'm not sure exactly what caused the trouble, but doing this worked.

[brian.b]

if its your brake catching you should be able to pull back on it and feel the shoes moving in and out but i have had bearing do this on old 2 wheel drive chevy trucks.

[Kory Fox]

Why would the wheel bearings cause the drum to be so hard to get on and off? I have every thing centered properly and the adjuster is all the way in. All 3 other corners are perfectly fine.

[joefrazer]

If you remove the shoes, does the drum install easily?

Just a wild guess, but could it be the wrong drum? Some early cars use a drum like those of modern cars where the studs and center stay on the axle. If you have that style, it could be the wrong drum.

If not, make sure the wheel cylinder pistons are fully seated. If they're partially applied, that will make the drum difficult to install. 

[Kory Fox]

There's no question it's the original drum. My grandfather bought the car from the original owner, who he knew long before the guy bought the car. When I got the car from my grandfather, I pulled all 4 to replace wheel cylinders and shoes. That's when I first had the problem with the drum coming off, let alone the problem trying to put it back on. That's what has me confused. Something isn't right, I just can't figure out what it is.

[joefrazer]

If you swap drums side to side, does the problem go with the swap? If so, it could be a warped or out of round condition with the drum.

I'd first remove the shoes to see if the drum then slides onto the axle shaft without as much effort.

[retired wrench]

 Make sure the parking brake is completely released.