Grrrrr Mazda

[Rileysowner]

Lately the parking brake in the wife's mazda protege has not been working. It has had this same problem in the past due to a part rusting. To get at it, I need to pull the rear drums which are held on by two screws. Last time I did the brakes all it took was a couple of hits with an impact screw driver. This time, they won't budge even having been soaked liberally with penetrating oil. Worse yet, the one screw had its head stripped out by my attempts. Even tried some heat. I just needed to vent a bit. I am soaking them repeatedly and plan to hit it with some heat tomorrow, but especially with the stripped screw head, I am thinking I may need to have someone else do this.

[Kidhauler]

you can get away with drilling the heads off the screws sometimes. The drum will be held on by the rim once the tire is replaced. Good luck I have been in the same situation. just be glad you don't have to do the heater core. My protoge blew the core and it requires the removal of the entire dash right down to the fire wall. If you ever have to do it book a weekend off work you will need the time. ](*,)

[Smiliesafari]

For all of you guys that live in the "Rust Belt"....anti seize on every fastener. PERIOD

[dunedog]

For all of you guys that live in the "Rust Belt"....anti seize on every fastener. PERIOD

buy it in the pint size can

if the screw is big enough drill and use an ez out .....sometimes a not so sharp drill heats the screw pretty good and helps break that bond of rust. Of course you've hit it with Koil or something like that ....right

[Rileysowner]

I was going to work on it today, but it is raining. Not a light misty rain, but a steady soaking rain. Sure we need the rain, but I was hoping I could get at it again today and see if the Release-All has done its job. All this makes the idea of working on the brakes on the van not something I am looking forward to. However, since it is raining, I won't be doing anything on it today.

Oh, these (IIRC) were anti-seized, but in this particular case it did not seem to make a difference. Eventually I will get it out or drill it off. Just not today.

[Rileysowner]

Sunday, rain. Monday snow. Tuesday (today) more snow. Wednesday forecast . . . you guessed it, snow. I think I will just put the wheels back on and try again another time. Maybe by Thursday or Friday it will start to warm up and stop raining or snowing so I can get back to it. I should have done the oil change first. Oh well, such it April weather in Southwestern Ontario.

[Cobra]

may 24 is almost here i bet it'll snow again

[Rileysowner]

Probably. I have to say, having the impact wrench certainly speeds up putting the wheels back on. I wish I had purchased one long ago. Thread on nuts, hit them with the impact wrench to snug up, lower the vehicle, torque up with the torque wrench, and in a couple of minutes all it back on.