I can not get the rear drums off

What is keeping it from coming off, does it move out but hang up?

are the brakes holding it ! if so you will need to back off the brakes. to do this, from behind wheel there is a slot to adjust the brakes. just use a wide screwdriver or a brake tool and rotate the star wheel in the right direction to loosen. ( up or down ). if there not holding it, just smack the center of hub with a hammer. do not hit the wheel studs. if all else fails, you may be able to rent a hub puller at your local auto parts store. good-day !

To do a brake job front or rear there is no need to remove the "hubs" the front and rear rotors or rear drums are knock offs. if they are stuck to the hub a couple of gentle hits with a hammer will usually free them up. If you are replacing the rotors than whack away as hard as you would like.

Hi Peter,

The drums can get really stuck onto the center hub. If you look at your brake drum, you will see that there are 2 small holes in the drum between the lug stud holes. These holes are threaded. They are placed here just for this putpose. You can screw a bolts into these holes and "push" the drum off of the hub. Turn one scew a couple turns then turn the other srew a couple turns so as to push the drum off evenly and not cause it to bend or warp. Most brake drums like this use a 10mm X 1.5 bolt thread. If you get a couple of bolts from the local parts supplier, you can have them check to make sure they are the correct size by having them screw the bolts into a new drum that they may have in stock. You will need bolts with at least 1-1/2" thread length.

Your vehicle is equipped with sealed bearings that are pressed into the hub assembly. If your rear wheel bearings are making noise, you must replace the entire bearing and hub assembly (they cannot be greased).

To replace it, raise and support the vehicle and remove the tire and wheel assembly. Remove the brake drum. Remove the bearing cap, the spring nut and the axle washer. Remove the hub assembly and hub seal. The new hub assembly should come with a new hub seal installed. (See first picture below)

TIP: The brake drum has threaded holes in its face where an 8mm bolt can be inserted to help "push" the drum off of the hub assembly - they can get really stuck. (See second picture below)

Depending on which rear axle it has you may have a drum that is mounted inboard of the hub meaning that the the drum is held onto the hub with the wheel studs from the inside. To remove this type of drum you have to remove the axle shafts, hub bearing retaining nut, and the hub/drum assembly to get at the brakes. If the drum is mounted on the outboard side of the hub then it may just be stuck onto the hub or, if the drum is loose but just can't be removed then the brake shoes may be hanging up on the lip worn on the inside of the drum. The brake shoes would need to be backed off through the inspection/adjuster hole so the drum will slide over them. Hope this helps a bit and good luck!

The only trick is banging it off. Drums are known to be "frozen" on or stuck. Honestly, the only way to get them off when they are stuck is to carefully hammer it off. Below is what is required to remove and replace the drum....and a picture of your system:

Removal & Installation

1. Before servicing the vehicle, refer to the Precautions section.
   
2. Remove the wheels.
   
3. Remove the brake drum from the axle hub.
   

To install:

1. Install the brake drum.
   
2. Install the rear wheels, tighten the wheel lug nuts.
   

tap...not the wheel studs,the side face of the drum with 4 lb dead blow mallet which will release the drum from the hub. it takes 3 or 4 strikes to separate the two when its stuck to the hub ,once free it will slide right off.Heat,from a torch applied to to the cast iron drum around the stuck hub will work as well.

the center hole on the drum is the culprit of your situation if the star washer has been turned in all the way. you will need to beat around it firmly very hard for awhile untill it will come off. its frozen to the hub assembly

are your brake pads squeezing the rotor? are your brakes disc or drum? in order to replace pads on disc brakes you need to unbolt the caliper. If you have drum brakes make sure your car is secured and make sure your parking brake isn't on...