The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot '60-'66 Trucks From Brake Drum removal ?

I am trying to remove the front brake drum on a truck that has been sitting for a long time. the drum turns freely so I don't think the brake pad is too tight. Is there a trick to get stuborn drums off?

I'm sure you have but just in case....You have removed the wheel nut that holds the hub on, right?

Of course the wheel is off...I can move the drum outward just a little bit, Maybe the brake shoes are catching it and kind of holding it in place?

yes the brake shoes are likely catching on the wear lip of the drum, use the adjuster to relax them a bunch and it'll likely come apart

Bill

If that doesn't help would it be possible to do it by removing the bearing and putting the tire back on and pull the assembly off as a whole?

" From brake drum removal?" Man I must be tired because what I meant was FRONT brake drum removal?

If it's catching on the rust ridge, it probably won't work. Turn the adjuster all the way back like squeeze said, it should come off. There could also be some rust interference on the hub itself. Give it a shot of penetrant oil, like B'Laster or Kroil, and lightly rap the drum at the outside edge with a hammer, preferrably brass. That will free it up, and will also "walk" the drum over the shoes. You migth also lightly pry the drum once you get enough space to get a large screwdriver or small prybar in between the drum and backing plate. Key word is "Lightly", just enough force that when you rap it with the hammer, the drum moves off.

I don't understand why you are not taking the bearing nut off & pulling the hub off too. You need to service the bearings also. If it doesn't come off you need to back up the adjustment, like Squeeze say's.

I meant what wrenchbender says. On the front drums, they are sometimes riveted to the hub. (not the wheel, the hub)You have to pull the bearings and hub off the axle to get the drum off, its like the hub and drum are one unit.

For what its worth, if you need a new drum, you don't have to re-rivet it to the hub when you put it back together.

The first time I serviced the front brakes (drums riveted to hubs) I pulled the hubs and all. After grinding the heads off and pressing the rivets out, I replaced the bearings & seals and rebuilt the brakes. I think it'd be too hard to remove the rivets with the hubs on the truck.

cm

65 Chevy Guy,

I just did this tonight on my '65 C10. Squeeze and Longbox55 were right on the money! There is a slot on the face of the drum, turn the drum until you see a star wheel through this slot...that's your adjuster to relax the pads. Turn that star with a large straight blade screwdriver far enough and hopefully your drum will slip right off like mine did. Good luck!

Mine had the same slot on the front of the drum. Not sure why Chevy put it there instead of in the backer plate like most rigs....I had to replace 2 drums, they were too far gone to turn, and I couldn't find any anywhere with a slot in them. Wound up having to drill and cut an adjuster slot in the backing plate myself.