You are here:

Classic/Antique Car Repair/AC Ace rear brake drums

Advertisement

Expert: - 3/25/2008


Question
Any idea on how to remove the rear brake drums on a 1960 AC Ace? I've removed the rear wheel and the nut in the center of the hub, but now what? I don not want to damage the cooling fins on the drum by hammering on the drum, any help would be great.

Answer
Gotta use a wheel puller on that one. We used to use what my dad called a bingo cap. It was about a six inch long heavy piece of round stock perhaps twice the diameter of the axle and drilled and threaded half way through. We took the big nut off and screwed the bingo cap in place. Then jacked up the other side of the car so that there was weight on the wheel that we were working on and slammed the bingo cap with a sledgehammer. Usually tow or three good raps and the hub broke loose of the axle. Then let the car down and jacked up the side that we were working on and removed the hub and drum. But I would still recommend a puller.
Brad

Classic/Antique Car Repair

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Brad Sears

Expertise

All automotive including antique and collectible. However if the car has been modified I can only answer in general terms and maybe get you pointed in the right direction.

Experience

Automotive tech instructor. Syndicated auto columnist 1970's though the early 1990's. Syndicated auto radio talk show, Ask Brad About cars, CBS Radio 70's through 90's TV Show "Last Chance Garage" 1980's PBS-TV syndicated. Auto instructor for the following companies: Fram Autolyte Holly Carter AMF Ford Motor University Of Conn Blue Hills Technical School Sugar River Technical Center Grew up in a family garage in Needham Mass and turned wrenches from the age of 14.

Publications
Manchester Union Leader, Nashua Telegraph, Motor Service Magazine, Yankee Magazine, Popular Mechanics (Saturday Mechanic early 80's), Los Angeles Times, New York Times, and lots more.

Education/Credentials
More than I care to remember. Basically Franklin Technical Institute in Boston, Northeastern University, Fitchburg State Teachers College, Tufts University, and a lot of factory schools along the way.

Awards and Honors
Moto Award winner. And much more.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.