They are probably rusted there solid... take a big hammer and give her all she's got till it comes loose again... if they come loose and still cant pull them out... your drum is probably worn and there is a edge on the friction surface inside your drum that keeps you from pulling her out. Now you have to loosen the brake pads inside the drum by maybe bleeding the brake or there may be a rubber plug behind the back plate of your drum where you can reach a adjuster screw. loosen it and you may be able to pull the drum out .

 

If they feel loose but just won't come off then take a brake spoon and let off on your brake adjusters...you may have a lip worn on your brake drum that is hanging up on the shoes. If it does not feel loose at all..then tap around the drum with a shop hammer and try to break it loose.

 

where exactly is the brake adjuster on the drum? And, do I have to remove that bolt on the top of the drum above the axle, and the 2 smaller bolts below it when removing the drum? If this is important at all...these drums are big(I think 13 inch) due to it being a 3/4 ton.

 

I have a 1979 3/4 ton pickup and the brake drums will no come off. My manual doesn't explain very well about removing drums to replace brake shoes. These drums are on there good. How do I get them off?! thanks in advance.

where exactly is the brake adjuster on the drum? And, do I have to remove that bolt on the top of the drum above the axle, and the 2 smaller bolts below it when removing the drum? If this is important at all...these drums are big (I think 13 inch) due to it being a 3/4 ton.

If this is a free-floating axle and the drums are swaged (sp?) to the wheel studs at the hub, then they are one piece (can be separated on press) and the axle needs to be pulled and bearings removed before the drum and hub can be removed.

This is a 79 2WD SW (Single Wheel) and you are working on the rear drums, correct?

 

you may have to use some heat around the wheel studs, while someone prys with screw driver on drum edges

 

drum brakes

yes, this is a 2wd 3/4 ton pickup with a full floating axle.

 

wd-40 + big hammer?

 

drum brakes!!!!

Ok, I found the problem to why I can't remove the drum. The drum turns freely and it moves in and out about a 1/2 inch. The reason it only moves a 1/2 of an inch in and out, is because this damn front piece that the wheel studs go through is keeping the drum from coming off. It almost seems impossible to replace brake shoes on a 3/4 ton pickup. How to you get the drum off, if this circle wheel stud thing is keeping it from coming off? How do you get brake drums off of a 3/4 ton?!!!???!!!!

thanks in advance,
Mark

 

sounds to me like your floating axle is whipping your axle. Take the ring of bolts out of the end of the axle and remove axle. Inside the hole there are two large spanner nuts and a retainer on the spindle. Remove these and slide the drum and carrier assembly off the spindle. Don't drop the outer bearing in the dirt.

 

Ok, I found the problem to why I can't remove the drum. The drum turns freely and it moves in and out about a 1/2 inch. The reason it only moves a 1/2 of an inch in and out, is because this damn front piece that the wheel studs go through is keeping the drum from coming off. It almost seems impossible to replace brake shoes on a 3/4 ton pickup. How to you get the drum off, if this circle wheel stud thing is keeping it from coming off? How do you get brake drums off of a 3/4 ton?!!!???!!!!

thanks in advance,
Mark

Are you talking about little clip like things that are square with a round hole? if so there tinnerman nuts, there used to hold drums on cars at the factory when they have no wheels. Ither the person who did the brakes b4 thought they were required or, your truck has never had the drums apart

 

From what my manual says, I have to remove the axle shafts and a couple of things in the hub itself. Some type of nut requires the use of a special tool. All this to get the damn drum off to replace shoes. I should have bought a 1/2 ton. The brake drum removal section of the manual says "For all models, the drum can be simply removed by pulling the drum off. Yeah right, for half tons maybe. Then I read on to the drivetrain section. Removal of hub assembly to remove brake drum. Has anyone here ever replaced brake shoes on a full floating axle?

 

From what my manual says, I have to remove the axle shafts and a couple of things in the hub itself. Some type of nut requires the use of a special tool. All this to get the damn drum off to replace shoes. I should have bought a 1/2 ton.

The brake drum removal section of the manual says "For all models, the drum can be simply removed by pulling the drum off. Yeah right, for half tons maybe. Then I read on to the drivetrain section. Removal of hub assembly to remove brake drum. Has anyone here ever replaced brake shoes on a full floating axle?

You will need a special socket to remove/replace and adjust the locking nuts (manual should give FORD Tool No.) There will be some type of lock/retainer between the two nuts. Your manual should show how to defeat it. You most likely have 12 x 2 1/2" brakes (SW) or 12 x 3" (DW). They (brake shoes) are not retained or retracted as are car brakes. Hope the manual describes clearly how to go about replacement.

 

Ok, I found the problem to why I can't remove the drum. The drum turns freely and it moves in and out about a 1/2 inch.

The reason it only moves a 1/2 of an inch in and out, is because this damn front piece that the wheel studs go through is keeping the drum from coming off. It almost seems impossible to replace brake shoes on a 3/4 ton pickup. How to you get the drum off, if this circle wheel stud thing is keeping it from coming off? How do you get brake drums off of a 3/4 ton?!!!???!!!!

I'm still trying to figure this description out. I wonder if he is referring to the actual axle and studs?

 

KULTULZ, The peice I'm referring to is on the outside of the hub itself. The wheel studs come out of the drum, then through this guide(circle piece). The stud guide peice is keeping my drum from coming off. If this piece was off, then I could easly slide the drum off the hub.

 

By the way to everyone. This is a SINGLE wheel truck.

 

 

I got this photo from the internet, but is the same as mine. The piece that the wheel studs go through in front of the drum, is stopping me from getting the drum off.

 

The Photo Shows Everything

OK. You have an Inboard Drum Design. This is unique and the axle has to come out first. On the Outboard Design, the drum will slide over the hub.

Do me a favor when you get it apart. Can you give me the exact brake shoe size (inside drum dia. and width of shoe pad) and the Rear End Asm. Tag Info (if still there)?

 

I got the drum off!!!

I finally got the drum off. I took the axle shaft out, then removed the nut off the hub that requires a special tool. Didn't have that special tool, so I used a screw driver and hammer. Then I removed the locknut, then inner nut, and then she slid right off! Piece of cake, I just wish my manual would have told me this in the brake section. But I have to say, it was very inconvient to remove part of the drivetrain just to get to the brakes. This has got to be one of the things I hate about full-floaters. Anywase, thank you all very much for your input. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

 

Oh Yeah

KULTULZ,
I already put it back together, sorry. But I did measure the pads to determine 13 inch brakes or 11? inch brakes. The shoes width is 2.5 inches. Basically, alls I know is, this is a 14 bolt full-floating axle with 13 inch brakes, 10.5 ring gear, and 3.73 gears. I love it, very strong and perfect gear ratio for me. Great torque and decent highway rpm's.