HELP! Gremlin Brake Drum Question

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   Hi all.
My 72 Gremlin is stuck at Firestone because they f-ed up one of my front drums. Don't ask...

I ordered two new ones from Rockauto.com. I got the drums, but there are no hubs in them??
Did I get the wrong part? OR do my hubs get pressed out of my existing and put into my new ones? 

If I got the wrong part, can anyone tell me where I can get the correct drums??

THANKS!!!
Kensey
Pittsburgh, PA

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Kensey Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Addicted Joined: Jul/05/2015 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Status: Offline Points: 515	Post Options Post Reply Quote Kensey Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: HELP! Gremlin Brake Drum Question Posted: Aug/25/2017 at 3:20pm
	Hi all. My 72 Gremlin is stuck at Firestone because they f-ed up one of my front drums. Don't ask... I ordered two new ones from Rockauto.com. I got the drums, but there are no hubs in them?? Did I get the wrong part? OR do my hubs get pressed out of my existing and put into my new ones? If I got the wrong part, can anyone tell me where I can get the correct drums?? THANKS!!! Kensey Pittsburgh, PA
	Gremmy Power!!!

304-dude Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Addicted Joined: Sep/29/2008 Location: Central Illinoi Status: Offline Points: 9082	Post Options Post Reply Quote 304-dude Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Aug/25/2017 at 3:39pm
	Drums should come off the hub, for new drum fitment. It is possible the drum froze to the face of the hub, by rust around the hub snout. Spraying with PB blaster and letting it soak for a bit, then with snout faced down on a block of wood, whack the back edges of the drum in a star pattern. It should drop off the hub.
	71 Javelin SST body 390 69 crank, 70 block & heads NASCAR SB2 rods & pistons 78 Jeep TH400 w/ 2.76 Low 50/50 Ford-AMC Suspension 79 F150 rear & 8.8 axles Ford Racing 3.25 gears & 9" /w Detroit locker

scott Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Addicted Joined: Jul/10/2007 Location: Wildwood Pa. Status: Offline Points: 3500	Post Options Post Reply Quote scott Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Aug/25/2017 at 3:47pm
	Sometimes you have to drive all the lug nut studs out, then pound the hub out of the drum. And hope you don't bend or otherwise damage the hub while doing this. Then drive all the studs back in once the new drum is on the hub. Depending on how hard they are to get apart, I would consider replacing just one drum, as long as the other is still usable. But, if they fall right off the hub, replace both. What Firestone is your car at?? Rt 8, RT 19 Wexford??

Kensey Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Addicted Joined: Jul/05/2015 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Status: Offline Points: 515	Post Options Post Reply Quote Kensey Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Aug/25/2017 at 5:29pm
	Scott. It's the Firestone on Route 8. I took my new set of Cragar SS rims up there to be mounted. The fronts need 1/2 in spacers and longer studs. The rim center is hitting the outer edge of the drum. I had no idea I'd have to do this. I'm gonna get the good Billet spacers, not the cheap ones. Anyway, when they torqued one of the front rims down waaaaay to hard they bent the drum slightly. It's rubbing the backing plate. I've never seen anyone do that before. In their defense, I didn't know they needed spacers either. I never imagined putting new rims on was going to be so difficult. But she's gonna be female canineIN' with those Cragars!!!
	Gremmy Power!!!

Kensey Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Addicted Joined: Jul/05/2015 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Status: Offline Points: 515	Post Options Post Reply Quote Kensey Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Aug/25/2017 at 5:32pm
	My current FENTON alum slots fit fine.
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scott Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Addicted Joined: Jul/10/2007 Location: Wildwood Pa. Status: Offline Points: 3500	Post Options Post Reply Quote scott Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Aug/25/2017 at 6:28pm
	Custom wheels can be a hassle to fit at times. Hopefully you get it sorted out! Cragar SS's are hard to beat, one of the best looking wheels ever! I had a good experience at that Firestone when I had the front end aligned on my Javelin. I told the service writer I wanted their absolute best front end guy to do it. He gave the job to a young guy that really knew what he was doing & got the alignment perfect. A few years later I took my driver to them for 2 front tires. I got an older guy who mounted the tires. He wrote me a $2500 estimate for all the work my car "needed". I told him "No way!" & asked for my car. He made me sign off that I was driving a death trap & that they were not responsible for my impending demise behind the wheel, before they would release my car. I drove the car for another 6 years & never fixed a single thing on the list they gave me. It passed inspection every year no problem.

andyleonard Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Apprentice Joined: Dec/10/2016 Location: 90290 Status: Offline Points: 138	Post Options Post Reply Quote andyleonard Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Aug/25/2017 at 8:01pm
	I did this today. I tried a press but the center of the drum is very soft and immediately distorted. I PB Blasted the stud holes and both sides of the hub joint, then propane heated the drum just outside the hub on both sides, then I flipped the assembly drum down/studs up and started whacking the studs in a star pattern with a copper hammer. It took about 4 hits on each stud before they let go. Both were the same.

nickleone Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Addicted Joined: Oct/04/2008 Location: westminster co Status: Offline Points: 1438	Post Options Post Reply Quote nickleone Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: Aug/25/2017 at 10:14pm
	You have to remove the studs first they are swaged(?) to the drum. Nick
	nick 401 71 Gremlin pro rally car sold 390 V8 SX/4 pro rally car sold 1962 Classic SW T5 4 wheel disc brakes

Buzzman72 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Addicted Joined: Sep/15/2009 Location: Southern IN Status: Offline Points: 2723	Post Options Post Reply Quote Buzzman72 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Aug/26/2017 at 2:28pm
	My brother bought a set of Cragar S/S wheels [14x6] for his '71 Gremlin back in '74 or so. To avoid using spacers, he chiseled the balance weights off the drums. RESULT? The shank-type lug nuts bottomed out on the drum and wouldn't come off. He trashed one of the wheels taking the offending lug nut off. My advice? Use the spacers.
	Buzzman72...void where prohibited, your mileage may vary, objects in mirror may be closer than they appear, and alcohol may intensify any side effects.

Kensey Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Addicted Joined: Jul/05/2015 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Status: Offline Points: 515	Post Options Post Reply Quote Kensey Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Aug/26/2017 at 8:21pm
	UPDATE: I drove to Summit today and got spacers and longer studs. Unfortunately my 1/2 in spacers were super close, so we decided just to be safe to add a set of 1/4 in spacers. I had to get those from Advanced Auto, so they're the cast alum one. Will have to do for now. So I now have two new drums up front, longer stud, two spacers on each side BUT my rims are on. I plan on replacing the cast alum spacers with the good ones asap. Thanks all!
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