# Stuck rear brake drum screws

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/stuck-rear-brake-drum-screws/84611>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** brakes, ford\
**Created:** [April 15, 2014, 7:45am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stuck-rear-brake-drum-screws/84611 "2014-04-15T07:45:23Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Samacon101](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Samacon101](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Samacon101)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2014, 7:45am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stuck-rear-brake-drum-screws/84611/1 "2014-04-15T07:45:23Z")

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I have a 1966 Ford F-250. I am trying to replace the rear passenger side wheel cylinder, but I have ran into a small snag. There are 3 flat head screws holding the drum in place. I have sprayed them with penetrant oil and have hit them numerous times with an impact screwdriver. I have now come to the point where I am willing to fire up the oxyacetylene torch and blast the screw heads off. Does any one have any experience taking these screws out in a more traditional manner. By the way the truck has no working brakes and I can not take it to a repair shop.

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**Author:** ![Mechaniker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/13edae/32.png) [@Mechaniker](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mechaniker)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2014, 9:13am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stuck-rear-brake-drum-screws/84611/2 "2014-04-15T09:13:55Z")

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“ErictheCarGuy” has a YouTube video showing the ball-peen hammer method of loosening flat-head screws - it works for me about half the time. Give PT-Blaster a go at it. You could drill the heads off if you don’t want to set up the torch. Oxy-acet will blow the screw heads to kingdom come in almost zero time.

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**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2014, 8:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stuck-rear-brake-drum-screws/84611/3 "2014-04-15T20:54:44Z")

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I have torches, grinders…all the best medieval implementations 😉 but I would probably choose to drill off the heads over using a torch…

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**Author:** ![Rod-Knox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Rod-Knox](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rod-Knox)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2014, 9:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stuck-rear-brake-drum-screws/84611/4 "2014-04-15T21:03:54Z")

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The drum can be removed with the hub attached. Remove the axle shaft, loosen and remove the axle nuts and outer bearing and pull the hub. With the drum on a work bench it should be easier to remove the screws or leave them. It will be easier to repair the brakes with the hub off.

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**Author:** ![AlanY](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f4b2a3/32.png) [@AlanY](https://community.cartalk.com/u/AlanY)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2014, 12:21am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/stuck-rear-brake-drum-screws/84611/5 "2014-04-16T00:21:36Z")

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My experience has been with Honda drums and rotors. They also use flat head phillips type screws to hold them on. When necessary, I have always just drilled them out. It’s quick and simple. I like to use a reverse drill (the kind used for removing broken bolts) because at some point it will often back out while drilling but a regular rotation drill will work fine.