Genius! I was going to buy a brake drum puller for my old truck, but was horrified by the $135 price tag. This fits the bill and I have all the bits on hand.
Very nice! Best method I've seen yet! Don't forget to make sure your brake shoes are backed off enough to clear the drum or you'll bend some brake components.
Thanks a bunch! This was a lifesaver. At first I could not get the jaws to grab the disk then when I looked at your video I could see where you used the short side of the jaws and let the chain helped keep the jaws at a good angle.
I was going crazy trying to remove the rear drum of my 3/4 ton Dodge. I used this way but instead of the wheel jack I put in a small bottle jack and it worked great.
Outrageous that most cars need this kind of struggle! Delighted to find on my toyota a threaded hole in the drum, between the studs. You just borrow a bolt from under the hood, and drive it in. It forces the drum off the spindle. Cheap and beautiful solution!
I used a puller to get rear drums off Datsun 240/260 many years ago. After turning drums, we would coat axle flange area with Never Seez and dress up opening in drum with half round file and apply the same stuff to the edge. Years from now, drum came off a lot easier for service. Saw too many cooling fins damaged by hammering on them. Puller works better. Many had to be heated to get them off and always keep at least one wheel nut on stud to keep the assembly from landing on your foot. My 2¢ on that.
Gave this method a try on my 97 E250 and it worked like a charm. The "correct tool" cost about $125 and was not available to rent. Thanks Daniel for this idea.
BRILLIANT !!! .......As well as ingenious, ..... just shows what is possible when you exercise the old grey matter.......good of you to share this with us all. Ray from the UK
Genius. I had to modify my puller arms. Made a groove so they wouldn’t slip off. Also be careful when It popped I got hit in the knee. Make sure to use antiseize on face of wheel bearing to prevent rust.
nice. i need to do this on a '68 ford. one change i am going to make is to put a large axle nut socket between the jack bottom and the wheel hub. so i can move the drum further in one try. thank you for posting.
This is actually the best makeshift drum puller I've ever seen. A huge problem with drum brakes is over time the shoes can wear a groove in the drum that the shoes are in and you can't get the drum past + the center Axel hub also goes through the center of the drum and rust will build up so between the rust and the groove that may be present drums can be real tough to remove. Best case scenario you can back the shoes off by turning the adjuster through the access hole in the backing plate. Thus giving the shoes clearance to get past any grooves in the drum. Assuming the adjuster isn't froze up, but then you still have rust, a few taps with the hammer will usually be enough. Worst case you have the triple strike rust, a grooved drum and an adjuster that's frozen. Hence the need for a drum puller.
This setup makes a lot of mechanical sense. But because there is a lot of pressure involved, I would have felt better if you took some measures to protect your body, just in case a wheel puller from one side flew towards you. Thanks for the video!
The backing plate has a hole in the bottom, stick a drum brake tool in there and whine in the adjuster wheel in. Use a 3 lb ball peen hammer on the back edge of drum alternate left to right side. The carpenter's hammer is for nails, it is useless for automotive or mechanical work.
if your are having a hard time. back the shoes off. Using a hammer rotate and hit the drum until it releases. some drums have bolt holes with threads to installed bolts to push it off. using anti sieze on the hub will prevent it from rust sticking in the future. also using high temp paint to paint none shoe contact surfaces helps a lot.
Nice idea ,After you loosen the emergency brake and the brake shoe adjuster.to jack up against the axle just to move it a quarter inch or so if the drum bottoms out to the Jack get a big socket between the Jack in the axle and continue beat it but a big hammer penetrating oil. Nice job
OK for next time, use a jack stand please and get a proper puller, if that chain broke you could have wound up in the ER, no safety glasses! Also, before replacing the drum coat the hub where the drum slides on with anti seize compound, that will keep the drum from seizing up there in the future. I've been doing this for years and it really works with both disc and drum brakes. Lastly most drum brakes have and adjuster that you can access from the back of the backing plate, it is a star wheel set up and you can loosen the adjustment of the shoes to make the drum come over them. There will be a ridge of rust on the inner part of the drum and the shoes will get caught on that, unless you loosen the adjustment and allow the return springs to pull the shoes in further.
Interesting method...but that drum could have come off unexpectedly. And you could have been injured. Especially with your choice of footwear. But I congratulate you on your ingenuity. Well done!
I had a pretty big jack that came with my truck (94 cheyenne k2500) and i found it easier to use a ratchet strap rather than chains and simpler and my jack was big enough to sit on the studs so it easily pulled it
If you use the scissor jack that that has the 19mm bolt head on it you can use an impact wrench on it or a ratchet. I use those for all kinds of stuff.
There is a significant danger of the drum and puller popping loose andf FLYING off of the hub with no warning. Over-the-counter drum pullers apply a minimal amount of tension. You soak the hub ring with Kroil or PB Blaster, let that soak in 10 minutes or so, and then you bonk the drum radially (hit the edge as if to drive it into the hub) with a heavy hammer. (Heavy hammers make things move; light hammers make them bend.) It works, and it's safer.
A lot more work than it has to be. If the drum is stuck to the hub just wack it like you mean it with a hammer in between the lug studs, spin and repeat. If the drum is loose but still won't come off adjust the shoes in from the hole in the backing plate. Some drums have two threaded holes to put bolts into. Tighten them and it pops loose.
Good idea using a scissors jack, chain, and 2 hooks, but what you should have included was a steel pipe that's the length of the drum and a smaller diameter than the axle hub for the jack to sit on.. That way, it will pull off.
Got an old car one time and the brakes were ground into the drum with a lip on the outside so the drum wouldn't come off. Had to loosen the brakes through that little cutout with the little gear. I think the self adjusting gear. Where' you had to go in reverse to adjust it
That was awesome . My GMC safari has same issues, I didn’t release P break and it’s been 4 years, by the way I live in Los Angeles mostly dry weather . Any idea ? Thanks
Might have helped if he released the brake tensioner and a bit more hammer with an engineers hammer. He would have more time to do some gardening, ie pull some weeds.
Your Crocks would not have saved you from the power of the Nissan Nunchucks! I love the idea, will try it next time i have some stuck drums! The thought of the chain flying off the drum scares me just enough to want to see it happen.
Yes the best way to loosen a brake drum is, first back off lug nuts 2 full turns , then apply penetrating oil at hub and drum, start engine, place in g
Well done and good idea. BUT for pit sake in the absence of jack stands, at least use some blocks of wood...it's perfectly fine. The eventual damages to you or the car are truly not worth the risk. :-)
If mine are stuck, I take my car to Goodyear when they have free 25-point inspection, they check the brakes and have to remove the drums to do it. Most times I get the oil change with the coupon, to give them some business. So it's a win win.
@@Bohonk212 Actually sometimes the say they checked it but don’t. My Ford Focus has a Wheel nut for the drums so they said the check it but didn’t since it would be too much work. But the freed up my Vw drums so I appreciated they doing that for free.
Hahahaha I got a good laugh out of that one! I didn't notice it at first on video. I bet he won't do that again after having black greasy polka dots on his feet LOL
*Safety crocs - check *Using the wrong tool on the back- check *jack pressing against the drum you are trying to pull off - check *can't use a hammer- check You are doing it wrong. NO!! You can't barrow my tools.
tchrisou812 not! There are so many things that do not follow basic safety standards! The list is longer than I am willing to invest the time to list. 2 quick ones to set you to thinking 1) scissor jack (both for his puller and to jack the vehicle up) think why do manufactures put them in cars and why do no shops use then. 2) no jack stand incase of jack failure! Not even a shade tree block of tree!
@@coypatton3160 As long as he’s not under the vehicle then having no jackstands is just a choice on how much he cares about the vehicle. It won’t harm anyone personally.
LOL ... one little addition and you would have had something ... on the bottom of the jack, you needed a point to go into the detent in the middle of the axle ... then you would have been pulling the drum away from the axle, which is the point of a puller. But that would also be unstable, which is why professional pullers are not made of chains.
Problem: There are many causes for a brake drum sticking, one of which is the shoes have worn the drum so that a ridge on the drum exists . If you pull that drum off, you're going to do some damage to the brake parts !
I had the same trouble. What I did was to use an angle grinder with a cut off wheel and cut the drum from the outside of the drum to where the drum fits on the hub. Then I took a cold chisel or a prybar to spread it open. I was going to replace the drum anyway. I hope that helps. I will try to show a video of what I did tomorrow evening 10-9-2016. Click on my name to take you to my channel.
Just some insight. There is a hole in the back that is a capsule shape that use can use even a flat screw driver to un-adjust the shoes. Then you need a real hammer typically a 32-40oz and smack the drum exactly where your using that tiny carpenter hammer and it will come off no probs. That hammer is comical.
Genius! I was going to buy a brake drum puller for my old truck, but was horrified by the $135 price tag. This fits the bill and I have all the bits on hand.
Same, that was what I have on hand at that time. Now I don't have drum brake anymore.
Very nice! Best method I've seen yet! Don't forget to make sure your brake shoes are backed off enough to clear the drum or you'll bend some brake components.
I know this is an old posting but this setup worked perfectly on my 66 Ford Econoline , thank you
Thanks a bunch! This was a lifesaver. At first I could not get the jaws to grab the disk then when I looked at your video I could see where you used the short side of the jaws and let the chain helped keep the jaws at a good angle.
I was going crazy trying to remove the rear drum of my 3/4 ton Dodge. I used this way but instead of the wheel jack
I put in a small bottle jack and it worked great.
Outrageous that most cars need this kind of struggle! Delighted to find on my toyota a threaded hole in the drum, between the studs. You just borrow a bolt from under the hood, and drive it in. It forces the drum off the spindle. Cheap and beautiful solution!
I used a puller to get rear drums off Datsun 240/260 many years ago. After turning drums, we would coat axle flange area with Never Seez and dress up opening in drum with half round file and apply the same stuff to the edge. Years from now, drum came off a lot easier for service. Saw too many cooling fins damaged by hammering on them. Puller works better. Many had to be heated to get them off and always keep at least one wheel nut on stud to keep the assembly from landing on your foot. My 2¢ on that.
Gave this method a try on my 97 E250 and it worked like a charm. The "correct tool" cost about $125 and was not available to rent. Thanks Daniel for this idea.
BRILLIANT !!! .......As well as ingenious, ..... just shows what is possible when you exercise the old grey matter.......good of you to share this with us all.
Ray from the UK
Genius. I had to modify my puller arms. Made a groove so they wouldn’t slip off. Also be careful when It popped I got hit in the knee. Make sure to use antiseize on face of wheel bearing to prevent rust.
nice. i need to do this on a '68 ford. one change i am going to make is to put a large axle nut socket between the jack bottom and the wheel hub. so i can move the drum further in one try. thank you for posting.
Thank you! 2 days fighting the drum. watched this and it was easy.
I actually picked up a 3 jaw puller set at Harbor Freight, used the biggest size and got my tiny drums off my 99 sl1. Thanks for the idea!
This is actually the best makeshift drum puller I've ever seen. A huge problem with drum brakes is over time the shoes can wear a groove in the drum that the shoes are in and you can't get the drum past + the center Axel hub also goes through the center of the drum and rust will build up so between the rust and the groove that may be present drums can be real tough to remove. Best case scenario you can back the shoes off by turning the adjuster through the access hole in the backing plate. Thus giving the shoes clearance to get past any grooves in the drum. Assuming the adjuster isn't froze up, but then you still have rust, a few taps with the hammer will usually be enough. Worst case you have the triple strike rust, a grooved drum and an adjuster that's frozen. Hence the need for a drum puller.
I used a similar set up. No need to fight with them. You either pull them or cut them off. Nice work.
This setup makes a lot of mechanical sense. But because there is a lot of pressure involved, I would have felt better if you took some measures to protect your body, just in case a wheel puller from one side flew towards you. Thanks for the video!
I can't see it doing much damage, enough to learn your lesson but no more.
Great idea!!...you may just have saved me another day of frustration!!
The backing plate has a hole in the bottom, stick a drum brake tool in there and whine in the adjuster wheel in. Use a 3 lb ball peen hammer on the back edge of drum alternate left to right side. The carpenter's hammer is for nails, it is useless for automotive or mechanical work.
if your are having a hard time. back the shoes off. Using a hammer rotate and hit the drum until it releases. some drums have bolt holes with threads to installed bolts to push it off. using anti sieze on the hub will prevent it from rust sticking in the future. also using high temp paint to paint none shoe contact surfaces helps a lot.
GREAT IDEA, I HAVE SEVERAL SCISSOR JACKS VARIOUS SIZES. I WELDED 1/2 IN SOCKS OR YOU CAN USE 3/8 DR. WORKS GREAT. ENJOYED YOUR VIDEO.🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Nice idea ,After you loosen the emergency brake and the brake shoe adjuster.to jack up against the axle just to move it a quarter inch or so if the drum bottoms out to the Jack get a big socket between the Jack in the axle and continue beat it but a big hammer penetrating oil. Nice job
Thinking about buying a puller but they start out 106 dollars, you have a great idea but I would have used a crescent wrench to turn it
Also make sure the brake shoes are backed off. Doesnt take much drag to keep the drum from coming off.
That's a great idea. Creative thinking pulled you through. 👍
Very good, dude from the past.
OK for next time, use a jack stand please and get a proper puller, if that chain broke you could have wound up in the ER, no safety glasses! Also, before replacing the drum coat the hub where the drum slides on with anti seize compound, that will keep the drum from seizing up there in the future. I've been doing this for years and it really works with both disc and drum brakes. Lastly most drum brakes have and adjuster that you can access from the back of the backing plate, it is a star wheel set up and you can loosen the adjustment of the shoes to make the drum come over them. There will be a ridge of rust on the inner part of the drum and the shoes will get caught on that, unless you loosen the adjustment and allow the return springs to pull the shoes in further.
Interesting method...but that drum could have come off unexpectedly. And you could have been injured. Especially with your choice of footwear. But I congratulate you on your ingenuity. Well done!
I had a pretty big jack that came with my truck (94 cheyenne k2500) and i found it easier to use a ratchet strap rather than chains and simpler and my jack was big enough to sit on the studs so it easily pulled it
How about backing off the self ajuster , takes two screew drivers one to hold ajuster up and the other to back off the star
Necessity,,,,, the mother of invention….. Sweet…..
If you use the scissor jack that that has the 19mm bolt head on it you can use an impact wrench on it or a ratchet. I use those for all kinds of stuff.
There is a significant danger of the drum and puller popping loose andf FLYING off of the hub with no warning. Over-the-counter drum pullers apply a minimal amount of tension. You soak the hub ring with Kroil or PB Blaster, let that soak in 10 minutes or so, and then you bonk the drum radially (hit the edge as if to drive it into the hub) with a heavy hammer. (Heavy hammers make things move; light hammers make them bend.) It works, and it's safer.
That it the best use for that type of jack! also put some blocks of wood under the car
Thanks. You idea worked for me. Got it set up like in video, tighten, tighten, tighten then blow with sledge on far end of jack.
I also used to spray a little penetrating oil on the wheel hub to help the drum slide off. But was in the 80's :D
Do they sell hooks from what looks like gear a gear puller separately?
I have found it to be very helpful to use Mechanics gloves for this work so that your hands & fingers stay injury free..
Dear your efforts are good but you need to learn as you noticed that Jack fixed in drum base.keep it up to do best .
From Pakistan
Good point about the risk. But in this part of the world, access to drum puller is limited if not expensive. I suppose don't use full force.
Very clever. Thanks for posting.
I see some mistakes but good idea to make a brake drum puller.
WD40 or PB blaster on the center hub, drink a few beers and take a sledgehammer to tap the back and all around to shock the rust welds off
A lot more work than it has to be. If the drum is stuck to the hub just wack it like you mean it with a hammer in between the lug studs, spin and repeat. If the drum is loose but still won't come off adjust the shoes in from the hole in the backing plate. Some drums have two threaded holes to put bolts into. Tighten them and it pops loose.
Good idea using a scissors jack, chain, and 2 hooks, but what you should have included was a steel pipe that's the length of the drum and a smaller diameter than the axle hub for the jack to sit on.. That way, it will pull off.
Excellent idea, thank you.
This also worked for me - Thanks for the idea.
Man that was painful - but it worked.
Got an old car one time and the brakes were ground into the drum with a lip on the outside so the drum wouldn't come off. Had to loosen the brakes through that little cutout with the little gear. I think the self adjusting gear. Where' you had to go in reverse to adjust it
That was awesome . My GMC safari has same issues, I didn’t release P break and it’s been 4 years, by the way I live in Los Angeles mostly dry weather . Any idea ? Thanks
maybe hit the drum with a sludge hammer to lose up things inside, mine was rusted up at the center big hole only.
Good tip, Daniel. Thanks.
Might have helped if he released the brake tensioner and a bit more hammer with an engineers hammer.
He would have more time to do some gardening, ie pull some weeds.
I have never taken advice from a "man" wearing CROCKS... but it is a good idea
Good idea, just be careful where you put youre hands! 👍
Your Crocks would not have saved you from the power of the Nissan Nunchucks! I love the idea, will try it next time i have some stuck drums! The thought of the chain flying off the drum scares me just enough to want to see it happen.
It wasn't pulling against itself,as the hub is past the drom about 1/4 inch, I asum the breaks were backed off 1st
Yes the best way to loosen a brake drum is, first back off lug nuts 2 full turns , then apply penetrating oil at hub and drum, start engine, place in g
How to do this
The title should be “when engineers attempt to work on cars!”
scissor jacks and no jack stand.. gj back yard mechanic.. hope it doesnt fold !
don't drums have threaded holes so you can screw bolts to remove them when they are hard to remove
Some but not all do
And the hold my beer award goes tooo.....
so that it works is on the studs, not on the drum itself
Classic sandels no socks workin in the garage lol nice device ya got going on but be careful the feet bro lol
Thanks for the video. Chain size? 1/4" or 3/8"?
1/4 inches
Good thinking! I'll try this
How satisfying seeing that come off
Very resourceful, well done!
1:37 that right chain is perfectly aimed for when it shoots loose
Well done and good idea. BUT for pit sake in the absence of jack stands, at least use some blocks of wood...it's perfectly fine.
The eventual damages to you or the car are truly not worth the risk. :-)
hammer swing at 2:34 is epicly drunk
If mine are stuck, I take my car to Goodyear when they have free 25-point inspection, they check the brakes and have to remove the drums to do it. Most times I get the oil change with the coupon, to give them some business. So it's a win win.
They probably take them off with a sledge hammer, damage be damned.
@@Bohonk212 Actually sometimes the say they checked it but don’t. My Ford Focus has a Wheel nut for the drums so they said the check it but didn’t since it would be too much work.
But the freed up my Vw drums so I appreciated they doing that for free.
turn jack with nose in the hub. Gives extra pull space
Good idea!
crocs and car repair don't mix
Travis W
3:04 I' died
Hahahaha I got a good laugh out of that one! I didn't notice it at first on video. I bet he won't do that again after having black greasy polka dots on his feet LOL
@@kdmq that short extension he was using to tighten the jack made me cringe it could have popped loose violently and broke his hand.
They do if the car gets fixed😂
Thanks Dan. It worked for me too :D
Great to see , so inventive, I have small bottle jack that I might try along with this idea,
Careful using a bottle jack. A lot of times they slip and someone can get hurt. I tried that in past but it never worked. This idea will work.
Where did you get the parts for this
From up inya deeply
*Safety crocs - check
*Using the wrong tool on the back- check
*jack pressing against the drum you are trying to pull off - check
*can't use a hammer- check
You are doing it wrong.
NO!! You can't barrow my tools.
if you look closely its not pressing against the drum. the jack is in the middle where the rotor pokes through.
That is funny
@@Capnobot Even so. Everything about this video is just a massive injury waiting to happen.
@@legobumb I did this. Its perfectly safe if you do it right. Worked like a charm
really good idea, I'm going to use this method to replace a broken stud bolt
tchrisou812 not! There are so many things that do not follow basic safety standards! The list is longer than I am willing to invest the time to list. 2 quick ones to set you to thinking 1) scissor jack (both for his puller and to jack the vehicle up) think why do manufactures put them in cars and why do no shops use then. 2) no jack stand incase of jack failure! Not even a shade tree block of tree!
@@coypatton3160 As long as he’s not under the vehicle then having no jackstands is just a choice on how much he cares about the vehicle. It won’t harm anyone personally.
This is why mechanics want so much money. Lot of work.
The best part was he went through all that and the shoes weren't even that bad lol
That looks dangerous, what could possibly go wrong?
The brake shoes maybe were too Tight as well ,so loosen them first and see if it will come out ...
Try banging on the fender. It might work better.
Did he back off the self adjuster?
Nice job. PB Blaster 1st, then a much bigger hammer. May not need your set up.
GOOD IDEA. BEING AN INVENTOR, I LIKE NEW. AND MAYBE SOME HEAT WOULD HELP.
thanks for the video I'm learn many
I'm glad it works for you
Good idea Daniel, thank you
GREAT IDEA! I used it, worked like a charm.
No, it didn't lol ...
LOL ... one little addition and you would have had something ... on the bottom of the jack, you needed a point to go into the detent in the middle of the axle ... then you would have been pulling the drum away from the axle, which is the point of a puller. But that would also be unstable, which is why professional pullers are not made of chains.
Great idea! Thanks for posting the video.
Nice Job!!
Problem: There are many causes for a brake drum sticking, one of which is the shoes have worn the drum so that a ridge on the drum exists . If you pull that drum off, you're going to do some damage to the brake parts !
I had the same trouble. What I did was to use an angle grinder with a cut off wheel and cut the drum from the outside of the drum to where the drum fits on the hub. Then I took a cold chisel or a prybar to spread it open. I was going to replace the drum anyway. I hope that helps. I will try to show a video of what I did tomorrow evening 10-9-2016. Click on my name to take you to my channel.
Mech Uno did the same thing to my daughter car, cutoff wheel and 10minutes. DONE
You’re a GOD DAMN genius dude!!!! My hero!!!!
The principle was good, but he should pay more attention to safety issues
That's easy to say when it isn't yours. But once you marry her, it ain't that easy.
Wow very good idea
You need to wear Safety Shoes when doing this job!
Just some insight. There is a hole in the back that is a capsule shape that use can use even a flat screw driver to un-adjust the shoes. Then you need a real hammer typically a 32-40oz and smack the drum exactly where your using that tiny carpenter hammer and it will come off no probs. That hammer is comical.