'78 Honda Civic - Stuck wheel, Mayonaise

Please help!
What to do? I cannot get off the rear wheel drum
on my trusty '78 Honda Civic (just 100,305 M on it)
to check the brake shoes. The nut is off, and I've
loosened the brake adjustment, but the drum does
not come off.(It can be rotated.) I've tried
prying with a screw driver between the drum edge
and the back plate, but no luck.
The other rear wheel drum just slides off.

The other question I have is about the oil filler cap.
Especially when it is cold outside, the oil filler cap
is covered with some Mayonaise-like substance.
What is this emulsion? Does it do any harm?

I would appreciate any suggestions. Especially,
about the drum.
Thanks, Alex

On Fri, 18 Feb 2005 14:38:31 -0500, Alexis Ostapenko >
wrote:

>
> Please help!
>What to do? I cannot get off the rear wheel drum
>on my trusty '78 Honda Civic (just 100,305 M on it)
>to check the brake shoes. The nut is off, and I've
>loosened the brake adjustment, but the drum does
>not come off.(It can be rotated.) I've tried
>prying with a screw driver between the drum edge
>and the back plate, but no luck.
>The other rear wheel drum just slides off.

You should find two threaded holes in the drum near the hub. Fit a
pair of 12 mm bolts into these holes and tighten them evenly,
half-a-turn at a time. This will pop the drum off.

>The other question I have is about the oil filler cap.
>Especially when it is cold outside, the oil filler cap
>is covered with some Mayonaise-like substance.
>What is this emulsion?

Oil mixed with water and/or coolant

>Does it do any harm?

It may indicate problems, like a leaking head gasket.
A small amount may just be due to condensation.
Do you take only short trips in winter, that never bring the engine
fully up to temperature?

Check your oil level, take the car on a 100 mile run, then check the
level again. Any water and gas in the oil will have boiled off by
then. If the oil level is down appreciably, note exactly what the
level is and check it again the next day. If it's mysteriously rising,
you've got problems. How's the coolant level in the rad?

Alexis Ostapenko wrote:
>
> Please help!
> What to do? I cannot get off the rear wheel drum
> on my trusty '78 Honda Civic (just 100,305 M on it)
> to check the brake shoes. The nut is off, and I've
> loosened the brake adjustment, but the drum does
> not come off.(It can be rotated.) I've tried
> prying with a screw driver between the drum edge
> and the back plate, but no luck.
> The other rear wheel drum just slides off.

spray around the lugs with PB blaster, and smack that bitch with a
rubber mallet. a LOT.
>
> The other question I have is about the oil filler cap.
> Especially when it is cold outside, the oil filler cap
> is covered with some Mayonaise-like substance.
> What is this emulsion? Does it do any harm?

water in the oil. some is normal. a lot isnt. how often do you change
your oil? do a lot of short trips? oil level normal? does the car run
hot? overheat at all?
>
> I would appreciate any suggestions. Especially,
> about the drum.
> Thanks, Alex
>

John Ings wrote:
> You should find two threaded holes in the drum near the hub. Fit a
> pair of 12 mm bolts into these holes and tighten them evenly,
> half-a-turn at a time. This will pop the drum off.

doh! i forgot bout that technique. works like a charm.

John's comment about using two bolts in the drum is right.

Sometimes you will have to back off the auto-aduster inside the drum
because they may have worn such that a slight rigde exists on the edge
of the drum. That edge can keep the drum from coming off, because the
pads hit against it when you try to pull the drum off.

On the backing plate you'll find a hole, often covered with a rubber
cover.
Using a brake spoon (looks like a bent screw driver) you'll be able to
engage the teeth of a ratchet operated auto-adjuster. Turning this
adjusted will allow you to back the pads so they don't hold against the
drum any longer.

Also, pay attention as to what direction you turn this ratchet: one way
tightens and it one way loosens it
Since you have one side off, look at the assembly and you'll see what I
mean.

Remco


If you have a manual, it should tell you



d allow you to get a brake s

I've never worked on Honda drums, but don't all drums all have an
access hole so you can back the shoes off? Or are honda/integra drums
different in that regard?

The mayonnaise like substance could be the result of adding plenty of
additives like fule likne cleaner, carb cleaner etc... (found that out
on an old Pontiac I once had).
The drum, if it rotates and won't come off then you probably missed a
screw on the other side.
a '78 with only ~100M ??? Damn! You just drive it once a month for
groceries??


Alexis Ostapenko wrote:
>
> Please help!
> What to do? I cannot get off the rear wheel drum
> on my trusty '78 Honda Civic (just 100,305 M on it)
> to check the brake shoes. The nut is off, and I've
> loosened the brake adjustment, but the drum does
> not come off.(It can be rotated.) I've tried
> prying with a screw driver between the drum edge
> and the back plate, but no luck.
> The other rear wheel drum just slides off.
>
> The other question I have is about the oil filler cap.
> Especially when it is cold outside, the oil filler cap
> is covered with some Mayonaise-like substance.
> What is this emulsion? Does it do any harm?
>
> I would appreciate any suggestions. Especially,
> about the drum.
> Thanks, Alex
>

BINGO!, but I use a brass hammer. And sometimes turning the drum as pulling
will "unthread" it from the shoes.
As someone who does brakes several times a week, and inspects more cars than
I care to count, I have never had to "dremmel a rust ridge off" and only a
few times had to back-off the shoes..


--
Stephen W. Hansen
ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician
ASE Undercar Specialist




"SoCalMike" > wrote in message
...
> Alexis Ostapenko wrote:
>>
>> Please help!
>> What to do? I cannot get off the rear wheel drum
>> on my trusty '78 Honda Civic (just 100,305 M on it)
>> to check the brake shoes. The nut is off, and I've
>> loosened the brake adjustment, but the drum does
>> not come off.(It can be rotated.) I've tried
>> prying with a screw driver between the drum edge
>> and the back plate, but no luck.
>> The other rear wheel drum just slides off.
>
> spray around the lugs with PB blaster, and smack that bitch with a rubber
> mallet. a LOT.
>>
>> The other question I have is about the oil filler cap.
>> Especially when it is cold outside, the oil filler cap
>> is covered with some Mayonaise-like substance.
>> What is this emulsion? Does it do any harm?
>
> water in the oil. some is normal. a lot isnt. how often do you change your
> oil? do a lot of short trips? oil level normal? does the car run hot?
> overheat at all?
>>
>> I would appreciate any suggestions. Especially,
>> about the drum.
>> Thanks, Alex
>>

> I think when I said "Northern", I should have said "North-EASTERN". Very
> different climate from yours.

Hey John, I think you must have snuck into my driveway and taken a picture
of the brakes of one of my cars.
You're in the north east as well? CT here so we're in the same rusty boat..

I didn't even look at your pictures, and I do know what you are talking
about. We do see some east coast cars in here and the rust is horrendous.
but with a few good hits with a hammer and it usually comes off. The only
one that fought me was a HUGE dodge truck and a 1961 jeep truck. That one I
put a large gear puller and air hammered it tight for 2 days. Then hit it
with a BFH.
The lead tech at the other shop was from NJ, and told me the stories of
wrenching on cars back there.. he says the only difference is you replace
more hardware, and used the torch...
Take care




--
Stephen W. Hansen
ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician
ASE Undercar Specialist


"TeGGer®" > wrote in message
...
> "TeGGer®" > wrote in
> :
>
>> "Steve" > wrote in
>> :
>>
>>> BINGO!, but I use a brass hammer. And sometimes turning the drum as
>>> pulling will "unthread" it from the shoes.
>>> As someone who does brakes several times a week, and inspects more
>>> cars than I care to count, I have never had to "dremmel a rust ridge
>>> off" and only a few times had to back-off the shoes..
>>>
>>>
>>
>> You appear to be on the West Coast in WA.
>
>
>
> I think when I said "Northern", I should have said "North-EASTERN". Very
> different climate from yours.
>
>
> --
> TeGGeR®
>
> The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
> www.tegger.com/hondafaq/