[ElGracho]

Originally Posted by kevinr1970

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The 4x4 brake shoes are about 2-3/4" wide while the 2wd shoes are about 2" wide.
The drums are about the same width difference also AND this appears to be about the some amount as the offset of the backing plates.

I am pretty sure that there are at least two different size rear brake shoes; 2" light duty and 2-3/4" heavy duty.
We are theorizing that the axles are the same width 2wd vs. 4x4, no matter what brakes are there and that I need to order new drums and shoes for the 2-3/4" brakes and everything should be hunky-doory.

Anyone confirm or refute this?

You guys are right. Both housings are the same width the parts in either housing would fit the other housing.

You can swap axles and drums to make a 2wd into a 4wd and vice versa. The 4 wheel drives all had the big (2 3/4" wide) brakes while the 2 wheel drive stuff could be had with the 2" or 2 3/4" brakes. I've never had a truck with the small brakes, I think they were mostly on the bare bones type trucks.

You can swap the whole backing plate and drums from the 2wd onto the 4wd housing and use all of your original brake parts OR you can use the big brake backing plates from the 4wd and get some new 5 lug heavy duty drums.

If your brakes worked well in the first place, I'd reuse them, then you don't have to mess with the parking brake cables either. They are a pain...