Hi, if you have drums like my 56 Plymouth, you are supposed to use a puller. Sometimes they are hard to get off even with a puller. You need to install the puller and if you have pressure on the puller and the drum wont pop, try wacking the center of the puller with a hammer, sometimes this will pop it. An old mopar person told me that if you don't have a puller, loosen the center axle nut a bit and drive the car around the block and the drums will pop. On my car, the brake light switch is mounted on the master cyl and I had the same problem with the lights. I just got a new switch and the problem was fixed. Nick ---------- From: Robert Whitman To: L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [FWDLK] Time for a Brake Overhaul Date: Wednesday, September 09, 1998 7:44PM Well I've been putting it off for a year now (I rarely drive it), but the weather it cooling off and beautiful in K.C., so I will finally attempt to work on my brakes on the '60 Adventurer. I know I need new shoes all around and the wheel cylinders are leaking, so after calling around, I found the shoes ($35 per axle) and a cylinder kit ($9.50 per cylinder w/ 6 wheel cylinders or all-new wheel cylinders for $39), all at Napa. My drums are in decent shape, they don't all measure perfectly equal, but they seem to be good enough? Also my brake light never lights up until the brake pedal is all the way to the floor (HELP!). I have no idea why this is so, but maybe you do. The reason I bring this to the group is to ask what I need to watch out for. This will be my first attack on the mechanicals of an old car and I want to get the car back on its feet quick. I own a FSM (Factory Service Manual). How do I check the master cylinder for problems (it should be o.k.?) I bet I will have problems with pulling the drum and will need to rent a puller (I will reread the puller thread from 2 weeks ago). What tells me whether I need to replace the drums? Is there anything I need to watch for when removing or rebuilding the cylinders? Why is my brake light not coming on until the pedal is fully depressed? I am hoping this will run smoothly (I have done several brake jobs on my Honda), but any tips from you knowledgeable folks would be a blessing. Please help this rookie! Thanks, Robert 'Slim' Whitman 1960 DeSoto Adventurer http://carnut.cxo.com/photo/mopar/60soto.jpg |