Ford 640 drum brake

RanchhandJ · May 15, 2013

Hi Folks,

How do you get the back drum brake off a Ford 640? I have read the shop manual and it says to remove the two screws or three spring nuts that attach each brake drum to the axle shaft. I am not seeing any screws or nuts on the backside of the drum. Will they sticking out or are they covered?
I have already removed the retaining clips on the lug threads. I've tried prying the drum a bit and knock it with a rubber mallet and still no luck.
Thanks for any input.

Rick

Texas! · May 15, 2013

There are no screws in the backside of the drum. If your 640 has any screws they will be in the front face of the drum securing it to the axle flange. If it has spring nuts they will be threaded onto the lug studs. If you have any screws or spring nuts, remove them. There is a small slotted hole in the brake backing plate and there is a star adjusting wheel inside that hole. Using a brake spoon or a screwdriver back that star wheel all the way off until the drum turns freely. Now you can try to pry the drum off. The inner surface of the drum may be bound with rust to the axle flange. The brake shoes may have worn away the drum until there is a raised lip on the outer edge of the drum which will hang up on the shoes. It's up to you to figure out what it will take to get the drum off at that point.

Bill Radford · May 16, 2013

Agree with Texas... My 641 did not have screws or the springs. Just the lug nuts holding the drum on. Mine was worn quite a bit...I had the parts to replace shoes and springs etc and had a better drum on hand in case I needed it(which I did)
I got it off by first backing the adjuster all the way off, then I got the propane torch and heated the drum until it was really smokin' hot. Took a large ball-peen and whaled the H#$% out of it until it started moving.
No really elegant way to do this, Im afraid.

RanchhandJ · May 16, 2013

(quoted from post at 17:55:10 05/15/13) There are no screws in the backside of the drum. If your 640 has any screws they will be in the front face of the drum securing it to the axle flange. If it has spring nuts they will be threaded onto the lug studs. If you have any screws or spring nuts, remove them. There is a small slotted hole in the brake backing plate and there is a star adjusting wheel inside that hole. Using a brake spoon or a screwdriver back that star wheel all the way off until the drum turns freely. Now you can try to pry the drum off. The inner surface of the drum may be bound with rust to the axle flange. The brake shoes may have worn away the drum until there is a raised lip on the outer edge of the drum which will hang up on the shoes. It's up to you to figure out what it will take to get the drum off at that point.

Thanks Texas and Bill. I'll take a closer look at my brakes.

Ford 640 drum brake

RanchhandJ

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Texas!

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Bill Radford

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RanchhandJ

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