Evening All, hope this New Year is off to a good start for everyone! I've made a bit of progress on Hercules this winter, but not as much as I had hoped to. I was finally able to finish the re-wire project, plumbing the new compressor in my shop. I'm now able to hog off stubborn nuts, bolts and whatever gets in my way, LOL. I finally have the wheels off so I can start to rework the brakes, but I'm unsure how to get the drums off the front hubs. And as for the rears, I'm guessing I'll need to pull the axles? Any advice will be greatly appreciated. Thanks
The front hubs and drums come off as one unit. Take the hub plate off and remove the spindle nut, take the washer and bearing out and slide the assembly off.
The rear drum should come off after you remove the three slotted screws that hold the drum to the hub. You don't need to remove the axle or hubs just to take the drums off.
It helps to back off the shoes before trying to remove the drums. Hitting the corner of the drum with a BFH for vibration while you pry with a thin pry bar between the drum and backing plate helps sometimes. They can be tough and the process is done in a walking motion, wiggle the front side then do the back...rinse and repeat!
Let us know if you need additional suggestions for stuck drums.
Hy Saw Mill, the first order of business is to back off the brake adjustments on all drums, hopefully the adjusters will allow you to do that. To remove the front drums from their hubs you will have to remove them as a unit so that you can get to the heads of the bolts which hold the two pieces together. The rear drums can technically be removed without removing the hub, but that may prove to be harder than removing them with their hubs. There are three countersunk screws in the face of the drum that can be seen once the wheels are removed and the drum surface is cleaned up, you will probably need an impact driver of some sort to get them out, good luck
Saw Mill It looks like you'll need seal work on those rear ones,you will have to take the axles out,if the drum will come off over the hub you could then inspect it. On a chevy I noticed a bearing too warm and was able to loosen it without disturbing the (not leaking seal) and saved it. I've learned not to overfill the differential and overtax the seals. Aim to end up with oil level 1/2 inch below the fill plug hole cold on the level. Front ones as was said,take off as an assembly after loosening the shoes. Once your back together drive a little feel your hubs should be barely warm from brake drum heat,I drive 12 miles feel em bout like a cucumber, you know not hot. Good Luck great truck too GMC tough !!
Hy Saw Mill, the first order of business is to back off the brake adjustments on all drums, hopefully the adjusters will allow you to do that. To remove the front drums from their hubs you will have to remove them as a unit so that you can get to the heads of the bolts which hold the two pieces together. The rear drums can technically be removed without removing the hub, but that may prove to be harder than removing them with their hubs. There are three countersunk screws in the face of the drum that can be seen once the wheels are removed and the drum surface is cleaned up, you will probably need an impact driver of some sort to get them out, good luck
Morning ,since my last post, I was able to get one of the front drums off. Luckily it just slid right off, probably because the brake shoe was toast. LOL (pics are attached). I've tried to back off the adjustment bolt of the passenger side, but they won't budge. I've soaked then in deep creep and hit them with a sand blaster to knock ay rust off but still no luck. Are they left hand thread? Is it advisable to heat them? Once again, thanks for the advice.
The brake adjusters are on an eccentric cam that moves the shoes in and out in relation to the drum. Work the adjusting nut back and forth- - - -one direction will retract the shoe, and it might no be the same direction on all the cams. Penetrating oil and a little heat from a Propane torch might help. As in other situations- - - -"all things in moderation"! Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
I just pulled the hubs from my 6400 by heating the screws and they came right out. I used a rubber mallet around the hub a few times and then walked it back and forth to pull off, came right off. I have Huck brakes and the adjusters don't seem to work. Sprayed them with penetrating oil and will try again tomorrow. If they won't work I guess I'll change all 4 wheel cylinders. Too bad they are $70 each.
