8N rear brake cover

Perplexed again ... have the rear wheels off the 8N so figure that was a good time to pull the drums and take a
quick look over the brakes ... I was prepared to fight the 4 bolts - but they came out without the slightest issue
... my problem is that I can't get the cover to come off ... I can move it about 1/2" with some symmetrical
pounding around the outside edge ... I see posts that say to hit the front in between the wheel bolts - which
pushes it back onto the hub, taking away the small gains I have made in getting it off ... so before I continue
pounding - on the front or the back, is it the brakes holding tight - I have tried with no luck to move the
adjusting screw in either direction or is it likely binding on the wheel bolts (or somewhere else)?

The previous posts mention making sure to have a wheel lug or two on when pounding on the front - since when it
releases it springs off ... but not sure I have enough actual movement to make that happen ...

It's not the lug studs.

You will need to loosen the brake adjuster.

You have, of course, placed a suitable block under the brake pedal?

Dean

Do you have the screws out?

See tip # 54.
75 Tips

I have tried with no luck to move the adjusting screw in either direction or is it likely binding on the wheel bolts (or somewhere else)?

Click to expand...

They may be rusty and stiff. Remember, you are loosening the slack adjusters when brake spoon handle is moving [u:3d16d946fd]away[/u:3d16d946fd] from axle (left or right side).

I took mine off about two hours ago. Had exactly the same issue you describe but I think you might try some more pounding. Mine would go back and forth as you describe about a half an inch but a rubber mallet in between the studs and then along the top as you turn it to get even strikes. I then also pounded from the back using a block of wood on the edges with a hammer. I do think there is slight rust along the stud holes that was binding a bit. I did not mess with the adjuster but then my brakes were worn thin and oil soaked. My brakes came off as one piece all together onto the backing plate after I removed the inner seal retainer.

Some new tips to store away for sure ... a little more fighting and pounding ... block under the pedal ... and finally got some movement on the slack adjuster ... and right side is off ...

Now left side is being a similar pain ... just one odd thing - the left side only had 2 brake drum retaining screws vs' the 4 on the right side ... just making sure I didn't miss anything ...

Thanks again for all of your help ...

More update ... sorry to keep extending this out, but each turn yields another adventure ...

After some more fidgeting with the left drum cover, it was pretty clear that this one was binding on the hub ... it was totally free from the brakes, but it just wouldn't pass beyond the hub ... in shaking it around I noticed that the axle nut was loose ... so I popped the snap ring off and with a wrench removed the axle nut (which I think is supposed to be torqued to 450#?) ... hub then slid right out with the brake drum ... flipped it over and gave it a pop, and the hub popped out of the back of the drum ... there was something binding it and no way it would come out without the hub coming off ... I also looked at the drum and for some reason the other 2 bolt holes had been capped ...

Back to the axle ... a few drops of fluid flowed out when I pulled the hub ... If my memory serves me correct from other posts, I think this scenario - hub coming off freely is the indicator of a seal or similar issue? And while I am working through that ... should I look to find a new hub or new drum cover so that in the future if I need to pull for the brakes, I don't have to remove the hub to get the drum off? or do you think it would acceptable to play with the fit and do some token grinding on the drum to make it clear the hub?