Removing Pontiac Montana Brake Drum

[advizo]

I am trying to check rear brakes on my 1999 Pontiac Montana but not able to get the drum off. I could really use some help!

[danielsatur]

There's probably groves worn in the pads & drums, that are locking them on, try a big hammer!

Also see Similar threads at the bottom of yours.

[1999montana]

Originally Posted by advizo

I am trying to check rear brakes on my 1999 Pontiac Montana but not able to get the drum off. I could really use some help!

I've placed a large screwdriver on the bottom of the drum prying against the axle mount on the axle and tapping the top of the drum from behind with a large hammer. It loosens the drum up and breaks the shoes loose of the small ridge that may be inside the drum. Then I re-seat it, rotate it 90 degrees and do it again.

I've had to move the drum in and out (re-seating it a few times) before it will finally come off. Might also be a small amount of rust build-up on the hub that prevents the drum from coming off too.

Working it off a bit, re-seating it and rotating and trying on a different quadrant of the drum should allow it to come off. Once it is off, it usually slips right back on, so I wonder if it is rust that makes the difference between easy removal and a PITA.

Just don't whack it with the hammer, you could break the edge off the drum!

[danielsatur]

If the drums have groves, it's probably best to buy on ebay!

[rkvons]

Originally Posted by advizo

I am trying to check rear brakes on my 1999 Pontiac Montana but not able to get the drum off. I could really use some help!

There's at least two issues with brake drum removal. One is the drum is fused to the hub. When this is true, the drum will not budge. I hate this. For this, I take a piece of 2X4 wood and place the edge of the wood on the back edge of the drum and hit it really hard with a big hammer. I lay on the ground behind the wheel, place the wood edge on the back, bottom part of the drum with the wood parallel with the vehicle and I swing the hammer from the center of the vehicle towards the outside and hit the wood. Then I rotate it and do it again, until it pops loose. You'll be able to tell. I take some WD-40 and spray it around the seem between the hub and drum as I'm doing this. The second issue is groves from the shoes. For this, I pry it off with a flat crow bar. Sometimes the little spring pins that hold the shoes in will break, but I just put new ones on when I change them. I never turn the rotors. I just put new ones on that I've painted several coats of hammered-metal black (Rustoleum). They look good for 8 years.