The 5 wheels that came with my 51 special are all the same. They slide over the hubs on the front and sit flush against the brake drums. However the rear drums have a round ring on the drums that are the same diameter as the hole in the wheel. This causes the rear wheel to sit about a quarter inch off the drum and solely on this ring. Obviously the lug studs hold it in place, but it seems to me that the wheel should seat over or rather around this ring. Is this correct and normal? Don't want to drive it with the possibility that my lug studs will shear off and lose both rear wheels. Help!!!
There should not be a ring on the rear drum. The shoulder ( the lip on the drum) is the same on the front and rear. Do you have a picture ? Can you remove the ring ???? Oh, is the hole in the front drums the same as the rear drums Bill
Bill, the ring on the drum is about 3 3/4 inches in diameter, the same as the center hole in the wheel. The ring is approx. 1/4 inch thick and 1/4 inch tall. I will take some pics tomorrow after work. Everything on the car is correct and original as far as I know, so guessing the wheels and rear drums are as well. Had a friend ask if possibly Pontiac drums, but don't know enough about early ponchos to guess.
Here is a photo of rear drum. The ring is the end of the axle if I'm correct. How do I get the drum off? I pulled the three bolts that hold it to the backing plate, but can't get the drum off. Rusted to the axle maybe? The manual just says remove drum, so it can't be too hard, but it doesn't come off. Totally lost on this one.
The drum is correct for your car. The center hub is the axle which the drum slides over. I think you need a BIG hammer !!!!! First , you need a rust solvent in the area of the lug holes the axle rim. Next I would use the hammer in the area of the lug holes with a piece of wood so you don't damage the drum. Then I would hit the drum on the outer face as if you are trying to put the drum on. Working the drum ,it should work free ! Good luck Bill
Bill and Smartin, thank you both for the replies. I sprayed them with pb blaster and a friend has a wheel puller for me to borrow. But I'm stuck with the problem of the wheel not going over the axle ring. The hole in my wheels are the same diameter as the inside of the axle ring, and the whole wheel sits on that instead of flush on the drum. Wrong year wheels maybe? Did Buick make wheels with different center hole diameters? All 5 measure the same, so wouldn't think any previous owner would have bought 5 steelies that don't fit the rear.
Is the center hole flanged away from the drum ? They would be 65 or newer buick wheels. Try one of the front rims on the back. Also take a picture of the rim center hole I can tell by looking if its a later wheel Bill
They are 1965 and later wheels !!!! If you look at your front wheels , there is no flange and the center hole is larger diameter . It looks as if you need 2 wheels . Bill
Bill, thank you for clearing that up for me. I really appreciate the help!! So then I need 64 and earlier wheels? There were no other year breaks in wheels? Looks like I'm off to the parts for sale section.
One last thing , The Specials used a width of 5 1/2 " and the others used a 6 " width . Both will work but the wider wheel was used for the extra weight and larger tire size . Bill
