Howdy again. Its been awhile, so long you probably dont even remember the last time I posted on here.

So here's my story:

My buick has been sitting for about two years.

It is a 79 lesabre limited 4dr 350 buick.

When I had put it up, I was just starting to really get serious about working on cars, and now, 2+ years later, I know a pretty good deal about how NOT to screw stuff up. If you dont want to read the long version, skip to the bold part below

I have neglected this car. It was not show piece when I got it, but thats no excuse I know.

Anyway here is my problem: The reason I put the car up is because the brakes failed. So now I want to fix(ill list what i plan to do below)it, but wouldn't you know, I cant get the front wheels off! they seem to be frozen to the hub. Thius really sucked to find out after I had to take off the lug nuts by hand , with great difficulty. That is my first issue: How can a diy-er get these wheels off? I tried kicking them, but that was no use. I sprayed a ton of pb blaster into the areas around the lug studs. It didnt help. What can I do?

Next problem: Not so much of a problem as something I havent done. I am working off of the assumption that my master cylinder failed. The brake light was on when I got the car, and my dumb *** drove it(this is my presumption) while only half of it was working, until the other half broke. when it failed, the pedal went all the way to the floor(thank God for quick pump-up master cylinders that shit saved my stupid ***).

I want to replace it, but im not totally sure how to do it with out getting brake fluid in my engine compartment. I am planning to turkey baster the excess fluid out carefully, then disconnect the lines and try not to get too much fluid everywhere(maybe foil? how to prevent this?), and then just unbolt it from the booster. then you just install the new one, right? of course making sure the pedal pushrod doesnt stick in there. bleed and I'm done, right?

Ill probably put all new parts (wheel cylinders, drums, rotors, calipers, shoes, drum hardware, and pads) on there, and check for leaks, anything else I should know? Or that I should keep in mind? Or do?

Also, if anybody could point me in the direction or a wiring diagram for my radio(it was cut, yes by me before i had any idea wtf I was doing....AT ALL...) I would be greatly appreciative. It just had the a/m-f/m non-digital setup.

Ok to recap:

I have a 1979 Lesabre limited 4dr 350 buick

1. I need to get my wheels off the front. they are the stamped steel variety. They are forzen to the hub. How can I get them off? I am thinking maybe a block of wood and a sledge hammer?

2. My brakes failed and I need to replace my master cylinder. Any tip, advice, warnings, etc? How can I confirm that it is indeed the master cylinder?

3. Does anybody have the wiring diagram for the radio in this car? Its the a/m-f/m non-digital.I cut it, and dont remember wtf I did. HELP!

Thanks in advance, and a special thanks to all that read the whole thing.

CHEERS!!!

graemlins/wavey.gif Yong Strike,

I just purchased a 56 Buick that sat idle for 33 years since 1970. I had the same problem with the steel wheels rusted and frozen on to the drums. I used a Lot of PB Blaster. Loosen the Lugs about a 1/2 an inch and then turn the steering wheel back and forth left and right. That Might break them Free. If that doesnt work, You will have to jack the car up a bit so the tires are just off the ground. with the lug backed off a 1/2 inch get some wooden boards and stratigically place them against the inside of the tires and rims. The You have to get a 40 piece of 4x4 or 6x6 and 2 mechanical had jack the screw type. place them between the 4x4 and the wood inside the tire and wheel and start ratcheting the jack. You might have to add a few block of wood to get the correct spacing to accomodate the size of the screw ratcheting jack. This manner you are able to Generate a great amount of leverage. ratchet/crank that mechanical jack bit by bit and the Wheel will finally break free. One of those Bottle Jack will not work, at least in My particular case. You pump it up and it gets to a certain point and the piston will not go Any Furchur. You have to use a Ratcheting Srew Type Mechanical Jack. It is the only tool that you will be able to use to generate enough pressure against a Stationary object. Also try rocking the car back and forth with pressure on the inside of the tires and wheels working against each other. With enough pressure they Will Finally Pop-off. the same gose for the Rears. They are Even Tougher than the front. Slowly, Little by Little, crank by crank, they will free themslves. Wood blocks against the inside of the Tires and Wheels will spread out the area of pressure and will not dent or bend the Rim.
First Things First and then go from there.
If You have any Trouble Understand or Following the Proceduce I just Discribed, Please don't hesitate to give me a shout or drop me a line.
Good Luck graemlins/thumbsup.gif graemlins/beers.gif
Brute strenght, and a little mechanical Knowhow, and some Patience and Perseverence will get You Through. You just have to be Mentally Tough and a bit more Stuborn than that old Buick Your Working on.

Tom Gallagher

Thanks tom. I just want to clarify what you are suggesting. Are you saying That I should, with the wheels on the ground, back off the lug nuts and then place wood on the inside of the wheels, then put some kind of jack between the wood on either side? the reason I say some kind of jack is because I have never heard of this particular kind of jack that you mentioned.

I have had the rear wheels off, as well as the drums, so I dont expect that will be so difficult this time around. The thing that is scaring me about the front is that, you know, when you try to wiggle it off the hub, the suspension parts have some give in them, and this makes me feel like something might break in the course of getting the wheels off. When I took of the rear wheels I wasnt scared to bang on em because there was no play, for obvious reasons. I know from memory that the front end needs some work, but I would just like to get the wheels off so I can fix the brakes, and then worry about other stuff(this heap has ALOT of issues, nothing I can't fix though, with the help of this board!)

Can you elaborate on a few things for me? These are the things I dont understand:

when you say a 40 piece of 4x4, do you mean any piece of 4x4?

Is a mechanical screw-type jack a scissor jack like what comes with most economy cars?

are you saying have the 4x4 in the center, and a jack on either side of it? pushing out on the boards that are touching the inside of the wheels?
Should this be done with the wheels on the ground?

Sorry if this is confusing, but at this point I am confused.

graemlins/wavey.gif Yung Strike,

A sizzers jack will work. You need 2 12 inch pieces of 2x6 to prop against the inside of both Tires and Wheels. a 4x4 about 40 inches long depending on the size of the jack. You may need it longer or just block to size with scrap peices of wood.
Since You are using one jack, but the 4x4 against the inside of one wheel and the jack between the 4x4 and the inside of the other wheel. With one Jack You can only loosen one wheel at a time. Spray PB around the center hub raise the tire just so it is off the ground and back off the lugs about 3/8 inch and then start cranking that jack. when you get it pretty tight lighty tap around the hub with a hammer and giv it a few more cranks and it should just pop off, you might have to crank quite a bit and the sizzers jack has a small handle, you might have to use a piece of pipe or rig up something to give you better leverage.
Once the one wheel is off, clean it up esp. around the hub and soak with PB. Put the wheel back on and tighten and repeat the process on the remaining wheel.
I hope this clears things up a bit. If You are not sure or something or a particular facit is unclear, ask again and I will try to simplify.
The LAST Thing I would want to happen, is for Someone to get injured, or to bend or brake something.

I wish You Success graemlins/thumbsup.gif graemlins/thumbsup.gif graemlins/beers.gif


Tom Gallagher