# 2002 GEM CAR drum brake Stuck - ideas? **URL:** \ **Category:** GEM Forum\ **Created:** [April 15, 2018, 2:01pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/2002-gem-car-drum-brake-stuck-ideas/13566 "2018-04-15T14:01:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PWC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/fbc32d/32.png) [@PWC](https://community.electricforum.com/u/PWC)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2018, 2:01pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/2002-gem-car-drum-brake-stuck-ideas/13566/1 "2018-04-15T14:01:00Z")
I just acquired a 2002 GEM that I have been digging into and finding that there has not been much maintenenace over the years. I am working on the front wheels. I am trying to remove the brake drum to inspect/clean/replace the shoes. I removed the two front mounting bolts on the drum and it will not budge. I have tapped the drum with a hammer and have sprayed some penetrating fluid into any space I could and tapped hard with hammer - again. Still no movement on the drum. Any suggestions on what to do next? Also, is it recommended to replace brake cylinder if I am going this far into this job? Brakes have not been serviced since car was built. Thanks for any help ---
**Author:** ![Reddevil](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.electricforum.com/reddevil/32/6128_2.png) [@Reddevil](https://community.electricforum.com/u/Reddevil)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2018, 11:29pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/2002-gem-car-drum-brake-stuck-ideas/13566/2 "2018-04-15T23:29:36Z")
Don’t waste your time with front drum brakes, you’ll always feel that stopping isn’t necessarily the first option your GEM will do when applying brakes. Convert to disc brakes, I believe NEV Accessories sells the kits for about $600. As soon as I put them on our 2002 e825, the fear of not stopping went away. ---
**Author:** ![Old\_Houseboater](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.electricforum.com/old_houseboater/32/544_2.png) [@Old\_Houseboater](https://community.electricforum.com/u/Old_Houseboater)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2018, 2:02am UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/2002-gem-car-drum-brake-stuck-ideas/13566/3 "2018-04-16T02:02:39Z")
Heat the face of the drum around the hub with a propane or acetylene torch and dont be afraid to beat hard on the drum. Also pry between the drum and the backing plate with a large screwdriver. I drive the screw driver between the plate and the drum. If I bend the backing plate a bit I beat it back into shape when I get the drum off. Hint: You can increase the effectiveness of drum brakes on older GEM carts by changing out the master cylinder to a MOPAR cylinder with a 3/4 inch bore. Email me if you have an interest. [rodneyadiehl@aol.com](mailto:rodneyadiehl@aol.com) Rodney ---
**Author:** ![PWC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/fbc32d/32.png) [@PWC](https://community.electricforum.com/u/PWC)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2018, 5:31pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/2002-gem-car-drum-brake-stuck-ideas/13566/4 "2018-04-17T17:31:07Z")
Thank you for the response. I put a torch on the drum for 15 min until smoke was coming out of drum, tried prying back the plate with screw driver, beat it hard with hammer. I have been at this for hours. I think I might try a drum brake puller but would have to purchase one. I will let you know how it goes. Patrick ---
**Author:** ![Old\_Houseboater](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.electricforum.com/old_houseboater/32/544_2.png) [@Old\_Houseboater](https://community.electricforum.com/u/Old_Houseboater)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2018, 7:00pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/2002-gem-car-drum-brake-stuck-ideas/13566/5 "2018-04-17T19:00:34Z")
did you remove the 2 retaining screws? In a message dated 4/17/2018 1:41:21 PM US Eastern Standard Time, [electricforum@discoursemail.com](mailto:electricforum@discoursemail.com) writes: ---
**Author:** ![PWC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/fbc32d/32.png) [@PWC](https://community.electricforum.com/u/PWC)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2018, 11:55am UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/2002-gem-car-drum-brake-stuck-ideas/13566/6 "2018-04-18T11:55:25Z")
Yes I did remove the two retaining screws on the front ---
**Author:** ![MoronBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MoronBill](https://community.electricforum.com/u/MoronBill)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2021, 5:58am UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/2002-gem-car-drum-brake-stuck-ideas/13566/7 "2021-02-06T05:58:52Z")
Just had the same problem on my 2000 GEM… struck the drum with a hammer for a bit… sprayed WD40 on the lug nuts… even tried to slightly pry on the drum/backing plate with a screw driver… and got nowhere… after reading other message boards that recommended heating the hub, etc… I watched a youtube video that showed 2 guys that fabricated a bracket with 2 bolts… they drilled and tapped 2 holes and it pulled right off… by the time I ate dinner and went back out, I slowed down my over processing brain and just looked at the drum… THERES A RAISED RING NEAR THE EDGE!! Grabbed a larger flat blade screw driver and a hammer… lightly tapped on the ring and BAM, the drum came off… piece of cake… much easier than drilling for fabbing a puller.