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Tue Oct 08, 2019 5:25 pm

I need to buy a good (but on a budget) hub puller.
I am looking for one that will work on Type 1 Drums for the early wide-5 pattern, that fits the newer stuff too-- but finding one that works on the wide 5 stuff is hard. What do you all have use? I am looking to order/buy one in the next few days! Thanks for your help!

Tue Oct 08, 2019 7:07 pm

I have one like this...
https://www.tooldiscounter.com/product/cal-van-hub...gL_ZvD_BwE

Tue Oct 08, 2019 7:42 pm

I've never had to use a puller for brake drums.

Tue Oct 08, 2019 10:34 pm

I had an old regular 'gear puller' type puller that I modified to use on my front and rear brake drums (...and no, they would NOT come off without the use of a puller!). I'll post some pics in a day or so.

Tue Oct 08, 2019 11:21 pm

I’m with Cusser. My pullers are my left and right hands. I did always back the stars off before trying though.

Wed Oct 09, 2019 1:46 am

panicman wrote: I’m with Cusser. My pullers are my left and right hands. I did always back the stars off before trying though.

And I'm in Arizona though, so little rust !!!

Wed Oct 09, 2019 5:54 am

panicman wrote: I’m with Cusser. My pullers are my left and right hands. I did always back the stars off before trying though.

When you have a drum that is stuck... from a car sitting for 20 years, you can't take it off with your hands, or spin the drum to adjust the stars. :)

Wed Oct 09, 2019 5:55 am

TDCTDI wrote: I have one like this...
https://www.tooldiscounter.com/product/cal-van-hub...gL_ZvD_BwE

Happy with it? It looks like it will adjust all the way to the wide 5 pattern?

Wed Oct 09, 2019 6:34 am

I have always had good results by putting the tire / rim combo back on and using the increased leverage. Lived in the southeast, southwest, and northeast and drug a lot of crap out of the bushes in various environments. Takes a little bit of time and grunting but 100% success rate. I know it doesn't answer the OP's question but it might help someone in a pinch.

Wed Oct 09, 2019 6:35 am

VW Addict wrote: TDCTDI wrote: I have one like this...
https://www.tooldiscounter.com/product/cal-van-hub...gL_ZvD_BwE

Happy with it? It looks like it will adjust all the way to the wide 5 pattern?

Yes! It was strong enough to pull a front drum that was seized to the brake shoes (Could not be rotated, heavy lip on drum that hooked the shoes also. Bus had been sitting in the clay for 40+ years.), off a '68 Bus (Wide five). It pulled the shoes & all. It wasn't pretty but it got a job done that would have been impossible without it. I used a 1/2" drive 3' long ratchet on it instead of the supplied handle.

Wed Oct 09, 2019 6:47 am

TDCTDI wrote: VW Addict wrote: TDCTDI wrote: I have one like this...
https://www.tooldiscounter.com/product/cal-van-hub...gL_ZvD_BwE

Happy with it? It looks like it will adjust all the way to the wide 5 pattern?

Yes! It was strong enough to pull a front drum that was seized to the brake shoes (Could not be rotated, heavy lip on drum that hooked the shoes also. Bus had been sitting in the clay for 40+ years.), off a '68 Bus (Wide five). It pulled the shoes & all. It wasn't pretty but it got a job done that would have been impossible without it. I used a 1/2" drive 3' long ratchet on it instead of the supplied handle.

Thanks.

Winner, winner. That is the one I will buy. Thank you!

Wed Oct 09, 2019 6:57 am

Wed Oct 09, 2019 7:18 am

Definitely look for best price, That link I posted was just the first one that popped up on Google.

Wed Oct 09, 2019 8:30 am

VW Addict wrote: panicman wrote: I’m with Cusser. My pullers are my left and right hands. I did always back the stars off before trying though.

When you have a drum that is stuck... from a car sitting for 20 years, you can't take it off with your hands, or spin the drum to adjust the stars. :)

Point taken- I always managed to land rollers....

Wed Oct 09, 2019 9:13 am

wooden block on the lip of the drum and a hand mallet

Wed Oct 09, 2019 9:39 am

BFH and soaking with PB Blaster or Liquid Wrench, maybe with a little heat.

Wed Oct 09, 2019 9:49 am

Here's pics of the modified gear puller I made. I couldn't justify buying a special tool for this, figuring I would probably only use it once or twice. With the modified gear puller, I can use it to pull brake drums, and still use it for a gear puller.

I made 'arm extensions' by using parts from a smaller gear puller (the chrome bits in the photo).

the arms extend far enough to fit around the 10" brake drums.

I ground the tips so they'd grab onto the brake drum, and ground the arms so they were thinner, so they'd fit around the drums.

Wed Oct 09, 2019 11:10 am

TDCTDI wrote: Definitely look for best price, That link I posted was just the first one that popped up on Google.

I search all over and that is actually the best price I could find. Do you recall paying a little less, or where you bought it?

Wed Oct 09, 2019 11:40 am

VW Addict wrote: TDCTDI wrote: Definitely look for best price, That link I posted was just the first one that popped up on Google.

I search all over and that is actually the best price I could find. Do you recall paying a little less, or where you bought it?

No, mine came with a parts car. :lol:

Fri Oct 11, 2019 9:21 am

If only needed occasionally, pullers of all types can be rented cheaply from any tool rental place.