Thread: How to remove rear drums 1937 Chrysler Imperial

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I just picked up a 37 Chrysler Imperial. The rear cylinder is leaking badly but I cannot figure out how to remove the rear drums. They are lockheed hydralics. Please help!!!!!!

sir you should have a big nut on the end of the axel remove it be careful some left side axels are left hand thread then you need a hub puller that bolts to the lug nuts put as much presure as yuo can on the puller bolt then hit the end of the puller bolt vary hard with a bfh you may have repeat the prosses a coulple of times but it should come off you should be able to rent a hub puller a good one is pricey if not pm me you can borrow mine hope this helps ted

Thanks!! Will try tomorrow.

I tried it and it didnt work. I rigged a hub puller since none of the locals stores had one. I removed the big nut from the bolt and did exactly as described. It seems that the bolt and the drum are one piece and it has a square key inserted between the bolt and the drum. Any suggestions?

sir that should be a tapered axel with a key chry. used them into the mid 50 ford til 48 and jeep also after you have the nut removed you bolt the puller to 3 lug bolts it takes a hob puller with a large center bolt that is mode to beat on they come off real hard some times a multi purpose puller wont work use a long breaker bar to tighten the puller screw as tight as you can hit the end of the puller screw with a bfh that means sledg hammer it will come off some times they are stubern a 1/2 impact will help on the puller scerw if you have one hpope that helps ted

I made a hub puller for that job many years ago. Three straps to three wheel bolts, then bolt a chain to the apex of the straps. Bolt the other end of the chain to the biggest piece of iron you can lift, put a handle on it and swing it like a golf club, straight out from the axle shaft. Stand so the chain comes tight at the bottom of your swing. Never saw one that wouldn't pop off with that kind of treatment.
Use a long chain so the hub doesn't whack you in the legs. Been there, got the scars!

I was unsuccessful with my home made hub puller. Finally broke down and ordered one from JCWhitney. It arrived on Saturday and I had the drum off in 15 minutes. It worked wonders. I spent two days on it with the home made one.

I was able to find the front cylinder rebuilt kits at Auto Zone (believe it or not). They even had the master cylinder rebuilt kit. But no one on the planet has the rear ones. Any ideas. This car has a brake power booster. Any ideas on securing a rebuilt kit for that

By the way, thanks again for the info

If the rear cylinders are badly pitted, take them to a machine shop and bore them to a bigger, common size, that you can get a kit for.

sir if your cylinders are not too pitted hone them find a real auto part store not auto zone bubble pack store they should have new rubber cups thats all you need if you cant find a real parts store hit some old auto brake or repair shop they dont buy kits the just hone the cyls and put in new cups ted