Brake drums cracked during inspection

[psychadelica]

errrggg...

So, today I had my L300 in a local shop to get my commercial vehicle inspection done (passenger transportation requirement for business). According to the shop, the two small bolts on the rear brake drum that you screw to push it off were stripped so they had to bang the drum off because it was stuck. Once off, both drums were cracked inside. They say it's not their fault as never-seeze wasn't used on the bolts. I've now had to have drums shipped down to Victoria from up-island at my cost and am without my van for the day. CCAuto mentioned that that sounds way out of line and like very poor work. Has anyone had this happen before? Thinking back, I did hear really loud banging in while in the waiting room which must have been them hammering on the drums

Frustrated and not sure whether to just pay up and get out of there or contest the issue.

`TJ

[jessef]

I've had to bang off drums that were seized on.

They have to come off to check the brakes. If they have to bang them off, so be it.

It's on you if the brakes are shot unfortunately. It's the way it is.

[psychadelica]

I believe they said that they would have cracked because of the banging. They said the drums themselves were fine otherwise and had lots of life left. Just wondering if it could have been done more carefully like by tapping and prying it or if it's necessary to really hammer on them hard enough that they could potentially crack.

[psychadelica]

The cracks run horizontally along the inside of drums (following the curve longways) as well not vertically. Not sure if that makes any difference or help more accurately disclose the cause. Can they be cracked like that from just being old? Again though, they said they looked to be in good condition otherwise.

[thedjjack]

Stuck drums, I have warmed up with a torch around the center hub and then used wood between the hammer and the drum....but I work on my own junk and do not charge by the hour...

Sounds a little rough to me...

[jessef]

Unless you had the drums off prior and can guarantee they were in good shape (no cracks), then you may find it hard to prove that the cracks came from them.

I have taken a BFG to drums on more than one occasion with excessive force to get them off. Never once they cracked like you are describing.

But.. if the shops said they assume responsibility for the cracks, then you're golden.

[ccautos]

The shop hit the drums so hard that they split the drum on the mounting surface !!! The braking surface was crack free but due to the severity of the cracks would not re-install them. We remove drums every day that have been seized on for years without antiseize. Hitting them so hard to crack them is crazy ?? A light tapping around the outer edge normally breaks the rust `seal` and allows the drum to be pried off. The harder you hit it doesn`t make it come off ?? You are basically trying to hit it on ?? I think there may have been more of a commercial mechanic with a commercial seized hammer involved