Technical Pulling a '47 Ford front drum - I need some help

Hey guys,

It sounds and feels like at least one of the tapered roller bearings on the p***enger front on my '47 Ford long door coupe gave up the ghost. I am trying to pull the front drum/hub with no success. I've done some searching and have found lots of info on pulling the rear drums but nothing for the front.

I have never pulled a front drum on anything this old before and I could use some pointers or guidance on how to get it done. So far I have been trying to finesses it with resorting to the BFH or similar but I am not sure it these require a puller or a lot of persuasion from the aforementioned BFH.

If anyone can help or direct me to where I can find the information I am looking for it will be greatly appreciated.

 

Everyone is probably watching LeMans today, so it may be slow.

IIRC on these Fords there are two nuts and adjusters on the bottom of the backing plate.
You need to loosen the nuts and then rotate the bolts to back off the shoes from the drum.
You may need a special spanner to rotate the adjusting bolts to back off the adjusters.
I think there are also two more adjusters up midway of the shoes as well.

Two upper bolts near the WC just mount the WC and can be left alone.

With the adjusters backed off the drum, you should now be able to take the dust cap off, remove the bearing nut and washer and slide the drum off to you. No hammer should be needed.

 

Can't pull the just the drum; you have to remove the hub and drum as an ***y as MM says.
You don't mention if you are hung up on the shoes or if your failed bearing is locking the hub in place.
If it is the shoes, backing off the adjustment as mentioned above should get it free (on a '47 there are only upper adjusters).
If the ridge in the drum is so bad you can't get it off or if the bearing is actually seized, a three arm puller that hooks to the studs will get it off; but there will probably be further damage.

 

Yep, I know the hub and drum are a unit. I have the castle nut off the end of the spindle but the drum does not want to budge. I have used a rubber hammer and have also used a small, 2 lb sledge to tap on the back edge of the drum - I have been taking it easy with the hammer.

The drum will turn on the spindle but it hangs up here and there as it rotates. I will back off the adjusters and see if that helps.