front drum brakes problem

[68lwb]

Anybody have a good way of getting front drums off a truck? My truck had been sitting for a long time, brakes work fine, but want to repack wheel bearings and kind of have a feeling might need new drums now, guessing brake pads catching on groove. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

[krue]

To get the drums off of my 70 you have to remove the wheel bearing (good thing you were planning on repacking them anyways). First thing to do is get a screwdriver and back off on the adjuster at the bottom of the drum, then pull wheel bearing, then you may need to take a hammer and tap around to free everything up.

Good luck, Krue

[walker]

Yep, remove the axle nut.

[68lwb]

There is no slot at bottom to loosen the adjuster on my front brakes, but I will take nut loose, that makes sense.
Thanks for your help!

[krue]

Check your drum for a small plate that you can knock out for the slot. I have seen that a few times.

[68lwb]

Didn't see any when I was cleaning under there, but will take another look. I really appreciate your help

[gr8scott51]

Your drum is probably riveted to your hub, so the advice to remove the axle nut and bearing is right on. I think you may be looking for the brake adjuster slot in the wrong spot. Don't look under the drum, it's on the face of the drum at the bottom. If the drums were replaced, they knock-outs may not have been knocked-out (as mentioned above), but if that were the case, your drums would no longer be riveted to the hubs.

good luck, scott

[Lippyp]

Originally posted by gr8scott51
Your drum is probably riveted to your hub, so the advice to remove the axle nut and bearing is right on. I think you may be looking for the brake adjuster slot in the wrong spot. Don't look under the drum, it's on the face of the drum at the bottom. If the drums were replaced, they knock-outs may not have been knocked-out (as mentioned above), but if that were the case, your drums would no longer be riveted to the hubs.

good luck, scott

My front drums didn't have the knock-out knocked out and were still riveted, I just used a punch and hammer and knocked them out and removed the little piece once I had the drum off. The knock out will be on the face of the drum but could be anywhereb around it's circumference (remember, the drum spins round, the backplate with the adjuster doesn't!) just knock it out and spin the drum until it lines up at the bottom with the adhuster

[68lwb]

Thanks for your help everyone! Used a punch to knock out the hole, loosened the adjuster, took off the nut, and the drum came off! Never worked on this type of brakes, wouldn't have made the connection of the drum riveted to the hub. Couldn't have done it without you.

[krue]

Glad to hear everything worked out for ya.