Classic/Antique Car Repair: 1950 Packard brakes, propane torch, hub puller

Question
I need to replace the brakes on my 1950 Packard Custom 8 and I cannot remove the left rear drum. I have even tried a drum puller and beating on drum with hammer!!  It will not budge. The right rear came off with no problems.  What do you suggest I try?

Answer
First, let me congratulate you on your superb taste!  (As you might guess, I have a Custom 8 also, although mine is a '48).

These cars require a very beefy hub puller - the one I use is made by Snap-On and it usually gets them to pop off if I use patience.  Sometimes I have had to resort to taking a propane torch to heat the hub of the drum, while there is extreme pressure applied by the puller.   Tighten your puller (using the knocker bar) as tight as you can stand doing, then apply heat to the hub, trying NOT to heat the axle end, if possible.   Be sure to leave the nut on loosely so that when it does pop, it doesn't travel across the garage taking you and everything else with it.   It sometimes helps to use a small sledge hammer on the end of the center threaded shaft of the puller, so as to knock the axle end in toward the center of the car.  Do all of these things simultaneously, and if that doesn't do it right away, just walk away for 24 hours, leaving the puller tight.   Sometimes, it will just pop of its own accord during the night, particularly if it is a cool night.

As a last resort, leave the nut somewhat loose, put the wheel back on the car, and try driving it in circles at low speeds to flex the axle shaft end.  Making abrupt starts, both in low and reverse will also break loose the crud/rust that is holding it.

When you do get it apart, make sure both the hub and the axle end is spiffy spotless clean, with no rust or other crud on it - use crocus cloth to polish it if you have to.  Do NOT use any lubricant on theassembly when you replace the drum - Someone probably did that to your car in the mistaken belief that it would come off easier, but in fact that makes the drum seat even further up the taper, and when a little time has passed and the lubricating medium is no longer there, it can lead to a real disaster trying to get it off.

Good luck,let me know how you make out.

Dick Benjamin