caravan electric brake drum removal problem

[Crash76 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Crash76]

G'day, i am trying to repack the bearings on my old caravan, which has ALKO electric brakes. I have only had the caravan since February, so thought it about time i repacked the bearings.

I am having trouble getting the drum assembly off. I have taken the handbrake off, undone the nut, got the outer bearing out, but then the drum just wont come off. It moves forward about 1cm, and then wont come any further. Its almost like the shoes have a lip on them that wont let it come off.

I have turned the star wheel as much as i can to get the shoes as far away from teh drum, but it hasnt changed a thing.

Any advice? i dont really want to pull the whole backing plate/assembly off if i can avoid it?

Its almost as thought there is a clip or something i need to undo!

[Strawb Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Strawb]

G'day Crash, Have a look here and see if this helps!
http://myswag.org/forum/index.php?topic=15546.0
Cheers
John

[krypto Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close krypto]

Occasionally the rear bearing jams on the shaft. You should be able to see if the brake pads are causing the problem, but unlikely if you have backed them right off.

A bit of advice, if you are going to the trouble of repacking the bearings then I would replace them. For $20/pair its low cost insurance as you don't know how long the bearings have been in there.

[LeighW Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close LeighW]

Sounds like the shoes are binding, you may need to back of the shoe adjuster
by using the correct tool or a screw drive to turn the wheel accessable via
the rubber plug in the brake backing plate.

You will need to readjust when you replace the drum.

Cheers
LeighW

[Crash76 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Crash76]

If the rear bearings have jammed on the shaft, will i still get a little bit of movement after i have undone the outer nut?

And yep, i will probably end up buying new bearings, that way i know how old they are etc.

[krypto Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close krypto]

Are you sure that you've backed the brake pads off as per Leigh's suggestion.

[Crash76 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Crash76]

yep, backed them off as far as they would go, so have no doubt that its backed off far enough. unless there is a problem with the star wheel.

[LeighW Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close LeighW]

When you pull the drum out can you turn it or is it jammed?

If it is jammed it still sounds like the drum is binding on the brake linings.

Cheers
LeighW

[Crash76 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Crash76]

yep, can still turn the drum when i pull it forward the 1cm or so that it can be moved. looking at the ALKO website, there doenst look to be much to it, so i am stumped as to why i cant get it off. Might just have to use some soapy water maybe, see if it loosens something up.

[404pug Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 404pug]

Years since I pulled mine apart but I seem to remember a similar problem. Try WD40 on each of the wheel studs in case of rust. Also try hitting a piece of hardwood slowly all around the drum from the back. Part of the problem will be that the shoes are still touching the drum [can you hear this as you turn the drum?] and they drag forward a little and bind as the drum comes forward....more force from the wood and keep moving the drum around a little as you whack it. Neil

[LeighW Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close LeighW]

Doesn't sound like the shoes binding then, a trick I have used in the past
is to use the wheel as a adhoc puller put the wheel back on but only do
the nuts up a couple of turns. Then push the wheel hard up against the
drum and give it a quick sharp pull out, with a little luck the mass of the wheel
will pull the drum off.

Cheers
LeighW

[Crash76 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Crash76]

i'll give it a try, but i seem to think that the shoes arent touching the drum, as i cant hear them touching anymore once i backed off the star wheel, but its worth a shot, thanks.

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

The drum doesn't have a tapped hole (s) near the hub centre? You can insert a bolt and use that to push the drum off the hub.

[Derb Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Derb]

Hey Crash. I am assuming that the van has tapered roller bearing set up as in separate cone and cage. If the inner cone is binding on the axle journal, all things being equal the only thing which should be preventing the assy from popping off once the cap, spit pin, nut, washer and outer cone are removed should be the seal. This being the case, the seal is only held in by friction and with a bit of persuasion should pop out of the inner hub when leverage is applied to the drum hearby releasing the drum and leaving the inner bearing and seal behind when the drum pops off. Discressionary force and/or tools can then be used to finish the task. Hope this helps. Cheers.

[Crash76 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Crash76]

LeighW.....champion idea mate, worked a treat.
Turns out the inner bearing is an extremely tight fit on the axle stub, and was "stuck" on. that little bit of extra force of the wheel was just enough to pop it off!!!

Then i had the great experience of having two different types of bearings to buy!!! have both ford bearings on the outer bearing, and holden bearings for the inner bearing.....doesnt seem that anyone makes a kit like this!! so spent half the afternoon chasing up differnet bearings. At least now its done.

Thanks for all the advice, it was greatly appreciated.