The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 1965 3/4 Ton Top Speed & Transmission Question

I think the answer is yes. My 49 has Huck-style brakes, so the drums just slip off the hub, after removing a couple of flat head screws. My manual is for a 54, with Bendix-style brakes. I would guess it is similar to yours. On that model, the drum and hub come off the bearings together, and to do that the axles must come out. Look for flat-head screws between 2 pairs of lug nuts, and look for space around the lugs and hub. Your drum may just come off.

If not, with the appropriate tool, not a hard job, actually. Undo the bolts on the end of the hub and screw 2 of them into the 2 threaded holes that were empty when you started. Tightten them evenly, and out comes the axle (it's a built-in puller). A hint. Do this with the truck on the ground and the wheel chocked so you can apply more torque to the bolts. Don't need to jack up the truck until the next step.

Now, find the correct hub socket (NAPA, etc.) and undo the first inner hub nut(?). The socket is about 2 inches dia with the same number of teeth as notches in the outer edge of the nut. I had to fab up a hold-down that I held in place with the lug nuts and went over the socket edge to hold it in place while I applied torque, otherwise the teeth popped out and I hit the floor.

Don't put the socket away yet. A spacer comes out, and then another hub nut (same as the first). The hub should now come off and the drum with it. Do the brakes right the first time, so you don't have to do it again for a while!