Opel Corsa Utility rear break drum stuck?

O

ODTech

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So my corsa rear left brake is not working. It makes a squealing/grinding noise and i am able to turn the wheel with the handbrake on.

I tried to open it to see whats going on but i cant get the drum to budge. Google shows you have to remove the axle nut cover and then the axle nut on the corsa c car but i cant apply those steps here because it doesnt look the same. I suspect the utility has the sealed hub/bearing the back..?

I removed the wheels nuts, wheel and a small screw in the front side of the drum. Do i just keep pulling/prying at the drum until it comes off?
 
ODTech said:
So my corsa rear left brake is not working. It makes a squealing/grinding noise and i am able to turn the wheel with the handbrake on.

I tried to open it to see whats going on but i cant get the drum to budge. Google shows you have to remove the axle nut cover and then the axle nut on the corsa c car but i cant apply those steps here because it doesnt look the same. I suspect the utility has the sealed hub/bearing the back..?

I removed the wheels nuts, wheel and a small screw in the front side of the drum. Do i just keep pulling/prying at the drum until it comes off?
Click to expand...
It sounds like you have this utility..?

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If so, remove the screw from the brake drum, which it sounds like you have done already..

Sounds like the drum may have worn past tolerance and the shoes are now pushed out beyond ridges formed on the drum and preventing the drum from coming off..

If you look at the back of the drum, from inside wheel arch, you should see a cover that comes out to reveal an inspection hole.. this hole should get you access to the shoe adjuster and allow you to adjust the shoes back towards each other and away from the drum and may give you enough to get the drum off easier..

A flat screwdriver and some elbow grease should do the trick for the adjustment..

I will see if I can find some pics to better example what I am on about..
 
So, the left of this arrow you will see what looks like a wheel with ratchets.. it's those ratchets you want to catch with a flat screwdriver from the inspection hole on the back and will pull the brakes shoes toward each other..

706d4bc6ae51f0960c2ff7e941ca743b.jpg
 
I have the c shape. The one you reference is a b.

I did see a hole with a rubber cap so will try that tomorrow. Thanks
 
It could be that the drum is rusted tight on to the hub. A few drops of Q20/WD40 onto the mating surfaces might help to loosen them, otherwise some blows with a rubber hammer or block of wood on the drum might help too.
 
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ODTech said:
I have the c shape. The one you reference is a b.

I did see a hole with a rubber cap so will try that tomorrow. Thanks
Click to expand...
Okay.. I went B because I don't remember a screw in the drum on my c shape Corsa but, the issue is Likely still the same.. that rubber cap is the inspection hole cover..

If it happens that you need new drums, go get them from the agents..

I tried all the available aftermarket drums at the Time and none of them were machined properly to fit the integrated wheel bearing.. in some cases the hole was too small for the bearing and in other cases the circlip groove that holds the circlip that holds the bearing in the drum is machined too low, so with the bearing seated, the circlip doesn't catch the groove.. found this out the hard way when my wheel and drum came off at 80kmh.. and yes, the circlip is the single thing keeping the wheel on the car..

I eventually just got the drums from the agents and they come preinstalled with the bearings, so it's a straight swap..

I will add though, at the time I was dealing with this, ferodo was meant to be bringing out drums for the c shape but, there was no ETA.. if you have to go aftermarket, I would recommend trying ferodo drums first and avoid motopart drums at all cost..
 
So I ended up taking the whole hub off because i couldnt see properly having it only on a jack.

It was the brake shoes pushing into the hub that was holding it. Using the inspection hole and a screwdriver i got it to release.

The culprit is a broken spring that made the one pad rub, the onther one doesnt look too bad but i will replace both on both sides while im in there.

About the bearing... It's sealed one unit hub and bearing. The bearing has quite a bit of drag on it but it feels smooth. Is this normal or is it time for new hubs?
 
ODTech said:
So I ended up taking the whole hub off because i couldnt see properly having it only on a jack.

It was the brake shoes pushing into the hub that was holding it. Using the inspection hole and a screwdriver i got it to release.

The culprit is a broken spring that made the one pad rub, the onther one doesnt look too bad but i will replace both on both sides while im in there.

About the bearing... It's sealed one unit hub and bearing. The bearing has quite a bit of drag on it but it feels smooth. Is this normal or is it time for new hubs?
Click to expand...
Do you hear a knocking coming from the back when doing about 80km/h..? If not, you are okay on the wheel bearing side..

If you want to change them for piece of mind, highly recommend SKF for the new bearings.. pricey but, worth it..
 
There is a fair amount of rust, so it may not be obvious that the centre comes off.. brush some rust off the sides of the centre and see if you can spot a seperation and pop a flat screwdriver in there..
 
No seam in the front. On the back is a lip that looks like it could be a cap but that doesn't help me. I will just put it back the whole think back the same way it came off.
 
So my drum is worn down too far and must be replaced.

Anybody farmiliar with this type of drum that can tell me how to get the hub off?

The pic is where the dust cap is already off. The cap still on the bearing is about 2 to 3 mm thick so i suspect its not coming off with a hammer and screwdriver..

dba663c4b79b7d2ef13891806cad5f36.jpg
 
Can we see the other side of the drum? The outer part. As it was said the dust cover comes of and the should be a nut that you unscrew, the way you have done it now does not look right for just removing the drum.
 
ODTech said:
So my drum is worn down too far and must be replaced.
Click to expand...

The hub and drum have rusted together, squirt some Q20 from the wheel side, let it pull in and give the hub a good wallop with a block of wood and hammer. Just make sure there is not a small screw(sometimes a star head sometimes an allen key) that is holding them together.
By rights you should have left the hub on the car but it will be easier now that it is off.
When putting it back fit the hub to the car first and perhaps a little copperslip between it and the drum to stop them rusting together again.
 
Düber said:
The hub and drum have rusted together, squirt some Q20 from the wheel side, let it pull in and give the hub a good wallop with a block of wood and hammer. Just make sure there is not a small screw(sometimes a star head sometimes an allen key) that is holding them together.
By rights you should have left the hub on the car but it will be easier now that it is off.
When putting it back fit the hub to the car first and perhaps a little copperslip between it and the drum to stop them rusting together again.
Click to expand...
I will give it another go tomorrow. I have been beating on it while it was on the bakkie and off. Rubber mallet and wood..
 
ODTech said:
I have been beating on it while it was on the bakkie and off.
Click to expand...

Rubber mallets bounce, use a proper hammer.
I have just had a better look at your pictures. Does it look like the drum and hub being separate pieces?

You might have the all in one version where the hub and drum are one piece.
Since you have to buy drums as it is, take the whole thing to the spares shop and the new one will give you some clues as to what you have to do.
 
Düber said:
Rubber mallets bounce, use a proper hammer.
I have just had a better look at your pictures. Does it look like the drum and hub being separate pieces?

You might have the all in one version where the hub and drum are one piece.
Since you have to buy drums as it is, take the whole thing to the spares shop and the new one will give you some clues as to what you have to do.
Click to expand...
I was wondering if its a one piece unit too but it doesnt look like it was cast as one. There is a slight gap between the drum and hub.
 
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