Removing rear brake drum from Flxible Visicoach

Kohrn Sirrup · October 04, 2014, 03:02:47 PM

Hello everyone! I'm having issues again so I thought I'd come to the pros again. I have to repair an eccentric adjuster on my bus because my brother didn't know his own strength and broke it. So, after pulling the wheels off I have 5 slotted bolt heads that have to come off to get the drum off. I've tried an impact wrench, an impact driver with a big hammer, nothing seems to loosen them up. I've soaked them,everything i can think to do. My next idea is to heat them with a torch but I can't really heat the whole bolt,just the heads.Will that be enough? Any ideas? Thanks in advance!

chessie4905 · October 04, 2014, 04:25:58 PM

They are supposed to be brass and relatively easy to remove. Try heating each one with a torch;that may do it. If not you can drill the tapered heads off to remove the drum and then remove the remaining studs, drill them out, or burn them out if you are good with a torch. With care they will burn out without damaging the cast iron. I've done it several times. Antiseize the new ones.

bevans6 · October 04, 2014, 05:51:27 PM

What Chessie said!

pain in the butt, but brass drills out easier than steel. I've gone so far as to pull the whole hub, drum and all, and put it on a machine to drill out the bolts. Hope you don't have to go that far

Brian

wg4t50 · October 04, 2014, 06:33:48 PM

Don't laugh but I would drill a 1/8" pilot hole about 1" deep, then try a left hand drill bit, about 3/8" slowly drill it, most times it will back out the screw.
now laugh
Dave M

luvrbus · October 04, 2014, 06:51:37 PM

Blow the heads of with a torch is the best,quickest and easiest way then you can screw the rest out with a pair of vise grips they come out easy after the drum is off

TomC · October 05, 2014, 09:36:00 AM

What an odd set up. Trucks, whether it be bud type stud positioning nuts or hub piloted wheels, the wheel is what holds the drum onto the hub. I'm wondering if you could just eliminate those positioning screws when putting the drum back on. Clifford-maybe answer? Good Luck, TomC

chessie4905 · October 05, 2014, 10:05:58 AM

I'd think that with the heavy drum, I wouldn't trust the wheel to seat it if it was cocked. You would also have brakes if wheels came off. Maybe it started when axle mfg's shipped the axle assys to builder, they wanted to insure drums stayed pet and didn't damage shoes and lining. I prefer the first.

Kohrn Sirrup · October 05, 2014, 11:58:51 AM

Hey everyone, thanks for all the great information. I guess burning them off is the next step. Before I do that I have one more question. If I decide to not take them off and not repair the eccentric bolt adjuster and leave it as it is,at least until I can get it to someone who can fix it properly with proper tools, will it be ok to drive as is? Will that eccentric gear stay in place for awhile? Its pretty rusty and thats why it broke in the first place. I guess I shouldn't do it half assed but I'm afraid I'll do more damage to it burning it off myself. I also think they've been replaced before because I don't think they're brass. They seem to be steel. Thanks for all the help , you are a great help!

luvrbus · October 05, 2014, 12:06:52 PM

You are not going to damage drum the 1/4 in screw will get hot enough to take the heads off long before the drum even warms up

eagle19952 · October 05, 2014, 12:25:38 PM

Quote from: luvrbus on October 05, 2014, 12:06:52 PM
You are not going to damage drum the 1/4 in screw will get hot enough to take the heads off long before the drum even warms up

really with a torch, you could melt the screw out with out ever triggering the oxygen....those drums are made to withstand red hot...almost.
you tube a disc brake.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxrygDtRSh4