The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot '60-'66 Trucks 3/4 ton rear brake issues

I just aquired a '62 3/4 ton Rat Rod Truck, or at least someone started down that path. The right rear wheel is froze, and I am assuming the brake is hung up. This may be a dumb question, why I haven't found the answer yet, but how do you remove the rear drum on the 3/4 ton axle? I removed the wheel and saw that it looked like the drum is attached to the axle by 6(?) bolts in the center of axle. I removed those bolts and some oil started to drip out. I paniced and put the bolts back in and decided to ask first. I haven't been able to get to the star wheel thru the backing plate. The shock mount appears to be in the way making it difficult to access. Maybe I'm just making this too complicated. At what point do I break out the 3 lb. persuader? Any advise or how-to is appreciated because I've got to get this truck out of my yard (where I dropped it from the trailer), and into the garage (no driveway so I can't just jack it and move it) so the neighbors and village can't complain about the percieved eyesore (right now I call it yard art).

Thanks.

First, welcome! Second, you were on the right track to getting the drum off. You have to pull those bolts off the hub and pull the axle out. Then there is a nut, a lock ring, and an inner nut. Remove those and the drum will be ready for removal from the axle tube. However, with the brake dragging you will need to get into that access hole and try and back the shoes off. Just be patient and keep at it and you will get it.

Thanks. I'll get started on it and hopefully the weather will hold out long enough to get it. Do you recommend trying to spray some WD-40 into the access hole to help the star wheel move? Everything will have to be cleaned and inspected anyway.

You may have to spray some sort of penetrating oil into that access hole. It is quite possible that thinks are rusty and froze up a bit. It sure wouldn't hurt anyway.

that's how i got my 64 c20 for free the rear brake was frozen. i actually made a "tool" to free it. i drilled 3 holes for three lug studs and cut away relief for the center of the axle out of a piece of 1" x 6" x 5' steel. bolted it on and with some light jerks from my other truck and chain broke free. i had soaked it in pen oil and drug with the tractor basicly tried everything else. i still have the "tool" if you need to drive down and borrow it. someone may have a better idea or say it might break something but it worked for me. after that i could turn the drum and got it to come off. good luck.