280z Stuck Brake Drum - HELP

[240ZEd73]

76 280Z parked for long time with handbrake set. Released brake - but rear wheels will not turn. Both rear drums frozen. Handbrake has been disconnected. Was able to free one side with banging and force applied with breaker bar between studs. Other side still resisting - any suggestions appreciated. Ed

[jfa.series1]

Add some heat with a heat gun - not a torch of any kind. Get that drum really hot and resume working it over with a rubber mallet. You might also spray some penetrant all around the interior thru the adjustment opening. Your brake shoes are already a probable loss at this point so you won't be inflicting further damage.

[Mark Maras]

I had this problem a few years back. After trying all the suggestions above with no success, I finally pushed the wheel studs back which allowed the drums to rock & allow more movement. I was able to pull the top of the drum out & with some leverage pull it off.The bottom shoe was the one that was stuck on both sides

[ZCurves]

I would try to work the Brake Shoe adjusters in to provide some clearance. You have opened the bleeder right? Doesn't the drum have the little threaded holes for a bolt to be run in on? If so, this works like a puller with the bolts pushing the drum out. Worst case, you could disconnect the brake hardline going to the cylinder AND then disconnect the cylinder itself. Get a big puller and start banging and pulling...

[Captain_Zeros]

My 240z was parked for a decade when I got it, and the shoes were thoroughly seized. The only thing that worked for me was lots of hammering and swearing.

[Mikes Z car]

If that happens to me I will try the easy approach first and just try the swearing. Then in desperation if that doesn't work I will try the hammering.

[Captain Obvious]

If that happens to me I will try the easy approach first and just try the swearing. Then in desperation if that doesn't work I will try the hammering.

Haha! I tried that. Didn't work. I still had to resort to other means.

Not only that, but I also had to resort to prying in addition to hammering and the swearing. In fact, the only thing that worked for me was hammering, prying and swearing all at the same time.

[Jeff G 78]

See my other posts on this topic. I've had some that wouldn't turn no matter what.

[Zed Head]

Sometime the tiny details matter most. If you rock the drum side to side the brake shoes will move and you won't make much real progress. If you rock/beat/pound/tap them top and bottom then the shoe pivots will hold the shoes and you get more for your effort.

[Oiluj]

Sometime the tiny details matter most. If you rock the drum side to side the brake shoes will move and you won't make much real progress. If you rock/beat/pound/tap them top and bottom then the shoe pivots will hold the shoes and you get more for your effort.

I had to learn this the hard way on my 2nd Z... Wish you had told me this 20 years ago!