I hate splined drums! Suggestions needed

[nm9stheham]

The bane of my automotive existence....splined rear drums! This in on a 6 cyl '62 Dart....original 8.75" rear.

I have tried so far to get these off by:
1) Using PB balster for 12 hours and using a FWD hub puller; it is on the small side, but I am getting enough pulling force on the drums to be a bit scary and to start to distort the threads on the wheel lugs
2) Trying the old trick of getting the hub nuts a bit loose and then driving several miles on a rough road...no luck there.
3) Next will be oxy-acet heat carefully applied on the hubs; if someone has opinions if I should apply the heat to the hubs or to the axles, let me know
4) Final step will be to grind off the heads of bearing retainer bolts on the backside of the flanges but I really don't want to go there.

Any ideas would be very welcomed!

 

[Jim Bob The Dancing Bear]

Don't think I am questioning your ability but the shoes are backed off of the drums?

 

[khryslerkid]

You need to use one of these. The first one is a snap-on and can go for $300.00. The second one can be bought on eBay for around $100.00. Or cheaper if the bidding gods are on your side.

Anything else won't work very well unless your drum isn't that tight. Sounds like yours are. You hit the spinner with a bfh until she pops loose! There are conversion kits to eliminate the splined drum. But I would invest in a puller to use and to have on hand. These axles and drums were used behind 500 hp Hemis back in the day. Good luck...

 

[nm9stheham]

No problems with questioning my ability ....I do it all the time! The shoes are not backed off yet, but that will not hold back a puller of any type from moving the drums at least a little bit if they are not frozen on the splines.

Yeah, I had seen those pullers; I just did not want that to be holding me up. But they do look like the ticket.......since I'll be keeping this car original, this may be a necessary tool for this car....many thanks!

 

[khryslerkid]

I did manage to pick up a used one on eBay for $60.00, when nobody was watching. Always got "snipered" at the last second, when bidding on one. They seem to be a very popular item. Just a "heads up". But you have to have one in your tool box if you own a '65.or earlier...

 

[dryheat]

That puller is exactly what you need. I picked one up at a local swap meet for $40 ... check craigslist cuz you'll might get lucky.

 

[moparmarks]

Just a "heads up". But you have to have one in your tool box if you own a '65.or earlier...

Actually 64 was the last year for those. 65 had slip on drum.

 

[nm9stheham]

Well I got to looking at the Snap-On online catalog and what they offer is the lower type pictured above. I got to thinking out how it worked and got to figuring that the hammer-on spinner was doing the same as an impact wrench. Soooo....in my infinite wisdom, I decided I would try the impact wrench on the $24 FWD hub puller I got from O'Reilly's; I can gurantee that I was getting well over 100+ ft lbs on it by hand with no suuccess.

So all other vehicles were cleared from the path of destruction, along with pets and small children, and I got myself shielded with the fender and gradually impacted it more and more. I have no idea how much torque ended up on it, but finally 'pop', the left side let go. The nut was still well threaded on so it could not just go flying anywhere. Just glad the drum taper let go before a wheel stud or the tool. The right was a bit easier.

I did grind the FWD puller a bit so it would get down onto the lugs a bit better. No gurantees it will work for anyone else; there is a lot of pent up force involved so be cautious of you do this; keep the axle nut threaded on partly, and don't put yourself in the line of the axle. These had had some antisieze way on the past, but probably only once in 52 years; I would expect things to be easier with regular removal.

BTW this is a taper more than splined unless you want to count the square key as a spline. Here is a pix for those who have not seen these.

 

[dryheat]

Well Done!!!

Hopefully you are converting to slip on drums and all right hand thread studs ...

http://www.crankshaftcoalition.com/wiki/Mopar_tapered_axle_rear_brake_conversion

 

[khryslerkid]

Actually 64 was the last year for those. 65 had slip on drum.

Yes, that's when they discontinued tapered axles, but some '65s had them...

 

[nm9stheham]

Well Done!!!

Hopefully you are converting to slip on drums and all right hand thread studs ...

Actually not.....This car can be classed as a true survivor car, I believe. I am keeping things as original as I can. Besides, how can you stump your chevvy buddies without some L-hand threaded studs and nuts? ====> "Does it take all you chevvie guys this long to get 4 wheels off?!?" LOL....