The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Removing rear drum on 4400

Trying to free up brakes that have been sitting too long .
Drivers side is in the splash zone from the barn,got the front
turning with a big pinchbar but ,no dice , on the rear.

Heated the lugs and a 36" breaker got them freed up.
The outer dual was loosened with a sledge and a push from
the tube when the rim split(inside). Inner rim still has 50% factory paint.

I was going to torch off the drum but noticed 3 flathead screws.
Do these hold the drum onto something ???

The body is too far gone ,my friend is making a dump trailer of it.
Should I try to salvage the drums for another "big bolter" ???

Hy chnaus, could you please tell us what year of truck you are working on? The three flat head screws hold the drum to the hub. I have always found it easier to pull the drum and hub as a unit, if I knew what year truck you are working on I may have suggestions about how to get the brakes backed down.

"54 I thought that was the purpose of those screws.
Never messed with a big bolt before .
Open to suggestions.

What are the drums made of ??? Cast steel or iron ???

Hy chnaus, do you have a maintenance manual for your truck? To remove the drum you will have to back the brake shoes down so that they are not in tight contact with the brake drum. I believe on that year there are two adjusting slots in each rear backing plate, if you pry out whatever covers there are in the slots (rubber or steel) you should be able to engage the toothed adjuster wheels with a flat spoon type bake adjuster tool or a heavy flat screwdriver. Be prepared for the adjusters not wanting to move, if the adjusters will not move then the removal project gets more complicated. Try backing off the adjusters and if you have no success come back and tell us and we'll walk you through the rest of the brake drum removal procedure, good luck.

If I can't back off the adjuster I can cut the backing
plate with a torch to remove the adjuster.
At that point the drum should be free to rotate.

I will then put a tire back on and load it on the trailer.

Remember many of the brake parts for larger trucks are made of unobtainium!

Hy Chnaus, the adjusting system on "Big Bolts" is not like what the light trucks have, try removing the bolts that hold the wheel cylinders in place, also remove the axles and outer wheel bearings and then use a puller pushing on the end of the axle tube to pull the hub/drum as a unit, protect the end of the axle tube from damage by the puller, good luck.

If the adjuster is rusted shut then chances are the slave cylinder bolt are rusted on too. If you try to remove them you'll break the bolts. Cutting the brake drums off is your best option at that point. Use a angle grinder, not a torch. The brake parts are difficult to find. Drums are much easier to locate

I don't think even Tannerite would have loosened that drum.
Both shoes were fused to the drum and backing plate.
All other parts in there that were supposed to move were stuck.
Cut the backing plate out and pried the parts out and the drum/wheel turns like a charm.

Anyone wanting the wheel cylinders can have them free for the shipping.