The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline How to remove rear drum 48 3/4 ton.

My rear wheel cylinder started leaking bad. I can't seem to get my rear drum off. Moves out to about 1 inch of the studs still showing and it just stops. A slide hammer won't budge it. I don't see a window in the backing plate to loosen the adjuster with. Ideas ???

Did you back-off the brake shoes?

There is no opening in the backing plate to get a wrench in to back off the adjusters. I have a service manual from 1954 and in that manual there is a small window to get to the adjuster. On the 48 the backing plate is solid so I was hoping someone would know "the trick" for a 48.

You could un-do the Wheel Cylinder...un-do it's Brake line at it's back...un-do whatever Brake Shoe retainers there are, ( make sure parking Brake is off and or even give it some slack on it's adjusters,) and, try pulling the Drum again, seeing if the Shoes and Wheel Cylinder and whatever else, will merely come off with the Drum.


Drum may be pretty worn and have a 'ridge' on it's inside edge, hanging up on the Shoes...even a very slight ridge can really hang up pulling the Drum sometimes.

I am surprised there is no access 'window'to be seen for adjusting the Brakes.

I woujld have expected two small 'slots' for that, one on each side of the Wheel Cylinder's mid area, for reaching in with a little Screwdriver or small lever, to turn the Wheel Cylinder's End Caps.

I don't think you have slots for adjustment. There should be two hexagon heads on the backing plate at the top. They drive the star wheel points on the ends of the cylinders. It is not like the 54.

Thanks for the tips guys. I will try again today before it gets too hot.

Are you sure you have a 3/4 ton rear end???
I was under the impression that the brakes on the
'48-'51 3600 used the spoon adjuster to turn the star
wheel. The pinion stud adjuster was on the wonton and
other heavy's.
Someone may have swapped out the HO52 for an HO72 rear
axle at some point.
http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/shop/1948_51truck/51ctsm0513.htm

DG

Truckernix you were right the adjustment windows exist and they are at the top. They were hard to see with the little metal covers coated in rust and junk. That did the trick and I got the drum off!!! I can install the new wheel cylinder but while I have it apart I would like to install a new emergency brake cable. To do so I need to drop the brake shoes down. I have never seen this type of brake before. I took the top spring off and unbolted the bar behind the shoes. I am guessing the next step is to release the 2 keepers near the bottom of the shoes? Do I just push in and turn to get them to release ? I confess the stuff I have experience with starts in the 50's. This 48 is a little older technology but still fun !

Denny this truck is a very heavy 3/4 ton unit. I count 14 leafs in the rear springs. It also has 17 inch wheels. I don't know what the pinion style of adjuster looks like. This has what I would call a star on each side of the wheel cylinder. I could only loosen one side. The other adjuster was frozen but the drum finally came off.

So here is an exploded view of you brake setup in the back. Rear Brakes So there is a pin at the bottom of the shoe assembles that holds them on the metal standoff. That part is numbered 5.055. There is a pin lock on the backside, similar to part 5.057. It is like a washer with one side that is bent down and doesn't fit in the groove of the pin. You just bend it up and slide the pin lock off the pin. The pin can then be removed.

Here is an illustration of how the shoe assemblies are put together on the articulated links. Shoe Assembly He has one of the pin locks in his fingers.

Here is a photo of one of those clips. This is the Filling Station "whacky catalog" I am having a hard time trying to get this view to stay in one place. It is center right, just to the left of the brake shoe. pin lock

Thank you truckernix !!! That was most helpful. The previous owner spent a lot of money on the brakes and they work very good. I was supprised at how well it stops. A couple more hoses, a wheel cylinder, and E-brake cables and it will all be done. I looked at the pic of your flatbed. Very nice. Mine is a flatbed as well with a small crane on the back as equipped from the dealer in 1948.

I'd really like to see some pictures of your truck Camino.
A 3/4 ton flatbed is somewhat unusual, not terribly rare but not
all that common either. Most 3600's would have been pickups.
I've never heard of a dealer equipped crane before. Must have
been delivered as flatbed and had the aftermarket crane
installed locally. How do you know it was delivered
that way? Do you have documentation to that effect?

Thanks,
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

I would be happy to send you some photos. Just let me know a phone or email address and I can send them. I just bought the truck from a local Model T Model A collector. He has had it since 1980. It was a Nebraska truck and came with a 7 ft Badger-Omaha bed. He does not know if the dealer installed the bed or Badger Omaha did it. It came with a small hand crane and a fire extinguisher mounted on the front. I have used the crane a few times and I think it would be able to lift and engine and swivel it into the back. I just really like the look of the small flatbeds.

email is in my profile, but it would be better if you
could post them to flicker or Photobucket so anyone
else that is interested could view them also.
Thanks
DG