66 Impala front wheel cylinder hell

[bobs409]

Gotta vent a little.

Did you know that the front wheel cylinders on a 66 Impala are attached by that big assed stud thing, whatever it's called that the top of the brake shoes sit against?

So as you can imagine, it's not budging! Probably hasn't been turned since 1966!!! It only has a little area to actually get a socket onto but wants to just slip.

(photo courtesy of the web, not my actual car) :



I'd like to kick the ass of the guy who designed this. It's 90 degree's with high humidity and I'm gettin' real cranky!

I'll take any usable suggestion to getting these off.

 

[Don Jacks]

A good 6 point deep well socket on an impact,and they'll come right out,Bob.It looks like who ever put those shoes on the last time or two didn't know or care about using brake lube between the shoes and the backing plate.You've got more work to do.

 

[bobs409]

That's not my car, just a pic I found online. My impact barely takes lugs off so that's out. I tried a 6 point deep socket with a breaker bar and pipe but there's not enough of the nut part to keep it on. Feels like the little bastard is really cranked on there! Only tried one so far...

 

[Don Jacks]

Yes.they're usually on there pretty good,especially since the factory also applied a lock tight like substance when installed.Go get a real impact gun,such as Rodeck.Using a breaker bar will not allow you to keep the socket square on the bolt that you're trying to turn.Do you have a decent air chisel?If so try using a sharp bit in the direction you're trying to go.

 

[bobs409]

Think I'll see if I can "soup up" my impact gun first! Guess that's another job that has been on hold long enough...

 

[Jim Sullivan]

If the socket doesn't cut it, try a big pipe wrench and maybe an extra pipe for leverage. If that gets it, you will just have to clean up the marks left by the pipe wrench jaws.

 

[303Radar]

How about applying heat through a propane torch and some WD-40?

 

[yellow wagon]

PB Blaster and a GOOD impact

 

[blkblk63ss]

You can put some lightweight oil in your impact on the air intake port a good squirter or two.that will help it developed more break over power.sounds like you need to order a new impact....

 

[Carmine]

Had the same problem on one of my Chevys. Forget which one. That nut didn't wanted to budge. Made me quite angry. I got the torches out and heated it until cherry red. I said "how do you like that"? Could have turned it out with my fingers if it wasn't so hot. I know not everyone has torches. Until I got mine, I used Mapp gas which worked decently. Took longer to heat up and didn't quite get that cherry glow, but I got by for the most part, Carmine.

 

[skipxt4]

Mapp Gas, should do it, Bob.

 

[La Hot Rods]

Do you have one of the hand held impact that you smack the end with a hammer?

 

[La Hot Rods]

Use at least a 64 oz hammer

 

[bobs409]

Well I had to open a big can of whoop-ass but I won that battle. I decided to drill a few holes in the casting that goes around that anchor bolt since I was replacing the whole cylinder anyway. Once I knocked a few pieces out, it took the pressure off of the bolt and it came out no problem. RH side tomorrow...

 

[61BUBBLE348]

I have used a hammer and chisel on those suckers in the past.

 

[blkblk63ss]

There is a tin flap that you need to bend back away from nut with a flat chisel ,then the deep socket should grab enough to nut to get off. If your socket is worn on end ,you can grind the socket end down to where the socket will have full contact on nut. I have torch set up also ,but have alway's got those off without heat. Of course I have good impact's so that make's the difference.

 

[Iowa 409 Guy]

Think I'll see if I can "soup up" my impact gun first! Guess that's another job that has been on hold long enough...

You need to bore and stroke that bad boy Bob........

 

[63impalass409]

I also have had to take a bfh and chisel to break the wheel cylinder out so the stud will come right out. Here's a good one for you, after I broke the old one out I put the new one in and I guess it wasn't centered perfectly so when torqing the stud the new wheel cylinder snapped. I pulled a few of my remaining hairs out!!!!!!

 

[bjburnout]

PB Blaster and a GOOD impact

yup - a little heat and PB and then a good impact. I have an old Chicago Pneumatic from the 60's
and I call it King Kong. When my cheapie won't move it King Kong will. Make sure your air source is
min 3/8 line and min 120 psi and no coil line........
Did my 66 Impala with the orig w/cyl and no problem.....

 

[bobs409]

I did have a coil hose at the end. Hmm, maybe that's the problem.

Oh yeh, RH side wasn't cooperative either so it got the drill & chisel treatment too!