QuestionI have a 1962 GMC pickup. I am replacing the rear drum brakes, and Iam trying to remove the drums, but the shoes will not adjust in to allow the drums to come off, tried turning the adjuster all the way in but the shoes still dont move. Any help on getting the drums off would help. I want to try to save the drums if possible. Thanks
AnswerI'm not really a truck person, and you don't say which size (1/2 ton or 3/4 ton) truck you have, but since there are not many other volunteers on here that take truck questions, I'll try to help.
If it is a half ton, with 5 lug passenger car type wheels, and no center nut on the end of the axle, the drum should pull off if the brakes are released enough that the wheels will turn. If the wheels won't turn, the brakes are not releasing all the way. Try disconnecting the parking brake cable so any tension is removed and then try rocking the drums on the wheel lug studs enough to get the linings moving around on their mountings. The retracting springs should pull the linings in far enough that the drums will slide off.
If your truck has the tapered type axle, (if there is a large center nut on the end of the axle, that is what you have), you need a hub puller to get the drums off. It bolts on to the wheel mounting lugs, and has a center push bar that is threaded so it can apply force to the end of the axle - you have to remove the center nut on the end of the axle, then thread it back on loosely to protect the axle threads from damage, then apply the puller to the drum and tighten it until the drum pops off. This might take a LOT of force, and you might have to leave the puller on there, very tight, overnight so that the temperature cycle helps to free up the tapered hub. These are VERY hard to get off - you need a good hub puller (Snap-on is the best) and a lot of patience!
If you have the passenger car type axle, which most half tons have, you don't have a center nut on the axle end, in which case you just have to work the drum back and forth as far as it will move, maybe spray some penetrating oil in there to soak the adjuster star wheel assembly so you can get it all the way loose (you can see through the slot- if any threads are showing, it still has more room to loosen).
If you force the drum off, most likely you will damage the shoe hold down hardware, but I doubt it would damage the drum or the backing plate. If the drum is so worn that the linings are stuck in the grooves, you will probably have to replace the drums anyway.
I hope this is some help.
Dick
