The front passenger brake drum is seized on my 64 Valiant. The car was last moved about about 5 months ago to where it is now so I could rebuild the carb and do some other work to it. Lost my job and everything got in the way. Long story short, I will have to move by Oct. 1st since I can no longer afford the rent and I need to get her drivable. This is wheen I discovered the seized drum. I first tried moving the car with no luck, isolated the offending drum and tried to loosen the adjuster. The adjuster will only allow me to move it downward, which I'm pretty certain is only tightening the drum further. I've busted my knuckles till I can't take it trying to move the adjuster the other way with no luck. I then put the wheel back on it and tried flooring it to get it to break free but I'm just digging divots in to the ground and burning rubber. Anyone have suggestions on how I can remove it?

To turn it the other way, there is a piece of metal that catches in the teeth of the tensioner, and is held to the tensioner with a spring. Push that clip away from the teeth of the tensioner, and rotate the tensioner in the other direction to loosen it up. I've found it handy to put the car up on jackstands and take a mini-mag light or similar with me to inspect what is going on.

2¢

CJ

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Part of Tyrde-Browne Racing

Ceej I forgot to mention with a flashlight I am unable to see an adjustment locker. Could it be twisted so that it is sitting parrallel with the adjuster?

I just went out and started prodding with a real thin computer screwdriver for the catch and I was able to push something. I could hear a spring move but not see it. And went to turn the adjuster and it ground the piece off the adjuster. I can't get a grip on any of the others to get it to move at all.

Wail on the sides of the drum with a BIG rubber mallet, get yourself a 3 pounder and open a can of whoop @@$. It could be rusted and just needs the proper motivation. Thats what we had to do to get the drums off of an 8 3/4" rear I bought years ago.

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Take the other sides drum off so you can see what you need to do to release the spring catch............

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Ed
64 Valiant 225 / 904 / 42:1 manual steering / 9" drum brakes

charlesskelter,

Sounds like the adjuster has seized up, if what Ceej told you to do, can’t be done. See if you can remove the rusted ridge between the brake shoe and outer edge of the brake drum. That is what is keeping you from sliding / pulling the drum off, and posably the shoe is rusted to the drum as well. Than it is rubber hammer time.

When you get it apart, and purchase a new adjuster, be sure to apply some never seize on the adjuster, and the other three as well.

Bill

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67' Dart GT Convertible; the old Chrysler Corp.
82' LeBaron Convertible; the new Chrysler Corp
07' 300 C AWD; Now by Fiat, the old new Chrysler LLC