Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

Hi all,

I posted a couple weeks ago regarding the proper puller for getting my rear drums off. Well, I purchased a puller and have been trying for several days in a row now to get the drum off. I work every day, so I come home and give it a few hits and nothing happen'in yet. I just soaked around the spindle area in front with Liquid wrench and hope maybe tomorrow I can get one of these off.

Any tips or suggestions from any of you on how you got yours off would be helpful.
My Packard is a 52 300 sedan.

Chuck in AZ

I'll assume that you loosened the axle nut, but left it on so the drum doesnt fly off.

You may need to retract the brake shoes in as the edge of the shoe may be hanging on a groove in the drum. So I would use the star-adjuster and retract the shoes in.

If that even fails to work, then I know a few people have tried to heat the end of the axle with a torch to help break it free of the taper.

Or the other standby trick is to loosen the axle nut ever so slighty and then take it for a drive, sometime this will pop it loose.

there should be plenty of force on the tool and drum by now.
Take a two pound hammer and strike the head of the puller bolt as hard as u can. Be sure the puller has plenty of tension on it before each hammer strike. It'll probably break loose before the 8th hammer strike.

Did you release the park brake ?

Thanks for the responses. I will let you know what happens. :)

The brakes were toast when I bought the vehicle and not driveable, so loosening the nut idea is out. Although, that one would probably work with less sweat!

Other suggestions duly noted. Only have a 16oz hammer, so I think I'll be heading to the store to get a 4 Lb. one.

thanks again for the responses!

Hi There, Her's my two cents worth.
I'm not sure what you mean by "loosening the nut is out of the question." If you are talking about the large nut on the end of the Axel with the cotter pin thru it you must pull the cotter pin and back off the nut. Otherwise no amount of banging will help. I always back the nut out so it's outside surface is flush with the end of the Axel. Then everyone is right. Keep banging on the puller with the hammer until the drum pops loose.