If you don’t know what size bolt to remove brake drum then you can learn all about it from this comprehensive article.
Recently, while I was on tour, my car’s brake drums warped and needed to be resurfaced, but I could not remove a stubborn drum because I did not have the correct size bolt to remove it. The drums were rusty at the hub, which made the problem worse. Also, the car’s manual was of no help as nothing was mentioned there regarding the size of the bolt.
After much research and effort, I removed brake drums by using an M8 x 1.25 bolt. If you, too, are stuck and need some assistance in removing the brake drums, read further.
How Do You Remove Brake Drum Bolts?
Removing a brake drum can be a risky affair if the brake drums are stuck due to some reason. The reason can be a rusty hub or a lip on the backside, catching up on the pads. If you cannot rotate the drum, the pads are either by rust, a stuck parking brake, or a stuck wheel cylinder.
How to Remove a Rusted Bolt?
It is common for the brake drum bolts to get rusty as they stay outdoors for their entire life. All you will need to remove the bolt is:
- Hammer
- Box-end wrench
- Penetrating oil
- Locking pliers
- Socket wrench
Step 1: Spray a good amount of penetrating oil on the rusted bolts. Make sure you dampen the entire area using good-quality oil. You can use a spray can for this purpose.
Step 2: Let the sprayed area absorb the oil for a few minutes. If need be, spray one more coat of oil.
Step 3: Now, with the help of a socket wrench, try to loosen the bolt.
Step 4: if the bolt is not moving or is very tight, use a hammer to tap lightly on the bolt’s head. While tapping with a hammer, make sure you don’t damage the hex head. If the bolt is slipping, apply another coat of oil and let it sit for a few more minutes.
Step 5: Now grab a locking plier, adjust the tension and grab the bolt firmly to loosen the head and remove the bolt from the brake drum.
How to remove a broken bolt?
If by chance, the rusty bolts are broken in an attempt to remove them, and the body stays inside the thread, you might need to have a different approach in removing the bolt. All you need is:
- Hammer
- Lubricating oil
- Drill with drill bits
Step 1: take a drill bit smaller than the bolt’s diameter.
Step 2: slowly drill into the bolt. Make sure you drill carefully else you will end up damaging the thread. Don’t forget to put some lubricating oil on while drilling.
Step 3: After you have penetrated halfway now turn your drill machine counterclockwise. This way, the bolt should come out. If the drill machine does not help, you can use a bolt extractor.
How Do You Remove A Brake Drum From A Toyota?
In a Toyota, you will find the brake drums located with the rear wheels. If you follow these steps diligently, you can easily remove a brake drum from Toyota models.
Step 1: Loosen the wheel’s nuts and, by using a jack stand, raise the rear end of the car.
Step 2: lock the car’s front wheels to prevent any movement of the car.
Step 3: Remove the rear wheel of the car using a wrench. The 5-star pattern of the wrench is the best for removing a car’s nuts.
Step 4: Now, before removing the brake drum, take chalk and mark the position of the brake drum in the wheel hub. This is an essential part because if you forget to make a mark, you might end up altering the dynamic balance of the hub and brake assembly.
Step 5: cut off all the washers in the studs while holding the drum in place as you won’t need it to replace the drum.
Step 6: remove the drum from the hub. If it is stuck somewhere, you probably must have forgotten to remove the plug from the back. Remove the plug, and now you must be able to remove the drum easily.
Do They Make A Brake Drum Puller?
Yes, today, many companies are making brake drum pullers. Sometimes it can become very difficult to take out drum brakes from your car. You may need a brake puller to pull it out.
A brake puller is exactly what it sounds like: a tool which removes the drum from the brake shoes using leverage. It is more effective than any other manual measure. You might need it if your vehicle is too old or your brakes are too far gone.
A longish bolt attached in the puller’s center gives it the leverage required to pull the drum. If you turn this bolt, the puller will start pulling the drum from the assembly.
If you seldom work on your car, you can easily rent one from the local tool supplier. If you love old cars and working on them, you can buy one at a local shop or online.
When Should Brake Drums Be Replaced?
Brake drums are one of the most sturdy parts of the car and are meant to last long. They are used only when you apply brakes. Your car’s drum brakes can last 200,000 miles. Isn’t this great?
But in some cases, the brake drums might require an early replacement. This can be only when the other braking system parts are not working well or the driver is an amateur. If the drums get smaller, you will know that it’s time you change it.
But keep in mind if you are doing this on your own, you should change both the drums in the hub and not one. Also, make sure you check other parts of the braking system, such as the disc, brake pads, metal tab, etc.
Wrapping Up
The braking system is an essential part of the car and needs to stay in good condition until you own one. If you need to remove the bolts of the brake drum, you can use the steps mentioned above to do it efficiently.
You can also take some expert help if you get stuck somewhere.
In the end, if any of the above ways was helpful for you, then don’t forget to mention it in the comments section. Also, if you have any other way of removing the bolt, do let me know.
