The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Brakes - distant memories

Ok, I know the first thing to go is memory and everyone knows it been a ton of years.

I just want to replace all my brakes, wheel cylinders, master cylinders and brake shoes.

I thought all you had to do was loosen the adjustment screw and the drums would slide off. I tired this on the left rear and must have turned it a dozen times and it dosen't seem to be working. Now it has been a long time since these drums were removed.


Have a I forgotton something or doing something wrong here?

Hy GeneBrownlow, please remember to tell us what year and size of truck you're asking questions about, that way we can make specific suggestions. Your adjusters may not be working, your linings may be stuck to the drums, your return springs may be broken.

Also, the drums may be "rust-welded" to the rear-axle hubs (depending on your year/model).

As 3B posted, " . . . tell us what year and size of truck you're asking questions about . . . "

You also might consider listing you model(s) of truck(s) in your Profile ("My Stuff" menu-item above; then "Edit Profile").

Sorry, It is a '59 Apache 1/2 ton. The drums rotate freely.

Hy GeneBrownlow, thanks for the info. As tclederman has said, your drums may be rusted to your axle flange, or even more common, rust between the drum center hole and and the axle may be holding the drum. Hammering between the studs on the drums flange surface may help to loosen it up, some penetrating oil sprayed around the axle studs, and the drum center hole wouldn't hurt either. Sometimes there is a groove worn in the drum by the brake lining, this will allow the drum to only move a small distance before the high spot on the lining encounters the regular bore surface of the drum, in order to remove the drum you must back off the adjustment until the lining clears the drum bore, good luck.

I am not sure about your year/model (but 3B would be); however, some models had a recessed screw holding the drum to the axle flange.

As usual, 3B's advice is excellent. Please let us know how it goes.

I know its been a few days but i wanted to get back and let everyone know silly i felt when all it took was a bigger hammer. No big issues here the drums were just really rusted in place so i use penatrating oil and after a day or so i just whacked it pretty hard and they popped right off.

I do have another question though. When i took them in to have them turned the guy told me they were worn to far. I am buying a new set of drums and never had a need to replace any before. I assume i can just bang the center hub out of the front drums and install new races and seals, right?

Thanks again for all your help. This is a great site.

Up front, you'll need to remove the rivets tat hold the drum to the hub. It's not too hard to do, they can be cut off easily with a chisle, then the knocked out with a punch. The hubs should come right out. You won't need to replace any races, unless you are installing new bearings. Only the seals would need replacing.

Do i have to rivet the hub back to the new drums?

No. They are really there for holding the drum and hub assembly together when the truck was built, not necessary otherwise.