Brake drum: access to starwheel?

[gman]

Trying to replace rear brakes but can't get the damn drum off. And the drum doesn't have the hole for backing off the little star wheel thing for the shoes. Its a stock K10. Where is the knockout for it? On the drum or the backing plate? Any suggestions on getting the drum off the rear end. I'm probably missing something here but I know someone will point it out. Thanks!

[67Fleetsidedream]

The little knock outs for it should be on the drums outer edge. Don't know why yours doesn't have any.
Are the drums covered in rust?

[gman]

You bet they are covered in rust. Crap is crumbling off the drum. Can you tell me exactly where to find them? Is there just one on each drum?

[lukecp]

It should be on the drum.....

Just back off the adjuster wheel and yank off the drums.

[67Fleetsidedream]

The 2 knockout are on the outer ring surface.... maybe someone could post a pic for ya...

[BLACK AND BLUE 67-72]

Hey, you guys. Not all of the drums have the stamped knockouts, I bought two new ones for my 72' about 2 months ago and one had the knockout and the other one did not, I looked everywhere and it was not stamped for the knockout. I took it back and tried to get a new one with the knockout and none of the eight that they had had a knockout? I know that they usually have them, but I don't know if it was a bad run of them that they had gotten or what the problem was.

[jorgensensc]

I've also noticed that if people don't pay attention they mount the knockout away from the star wheel. What I don't understand is how they adjust their brakes without the knockout?

[lukecp]

Here is an idea......if all else fails grind a hole to get access.....would proably make your drum a bit unbalanced though, lol.

[Palf70Step]

Mine were hard to find until I cleaned them....and even when I did I could not get them to punch out while they were on the truck...least wise I was too afraid to hit that hard. I just had to tap mine (front & rear) until I could wortk them loose. took several days for the back yard mech here.

Anyways, here is about where they should be. The arrow points to them...Mine has the rubber plugs in now.

[gman]

Man, I really appreciate the help, everyone. "70step"......I certainly appreciate the picture too. That will be a great help. I don't have the truck here with me tonight or I'd be out there looking right now with a flashlight. Would a 4x4 drums be any different than those in the pic? I'll keep what B & B said in mind. Hopefully mine have the knockouts under the rust. If not or I can't find them, I'll try tapping them front and rear like suggested. Where do you get the rubber plugs? Any mom/pop auto store? Thanks again.

[Palf70Step]

I got mine from Midas (freebee) when they turned the front drums for me.

[Longhorn Man]

Does the drum move at all? If not, take a 5 pound sledge and give the drum a real good whack. If you damage it, then it needed replaced anyways.
Thats how we do it at work every day. I have only damaged one, and it was paper thin.
Here is another picture of the access hole.

[gman]

Longhorn Man,

Drum moves fine. No noise from the shoes either but when I checked the right one in the spring it was almost time to replace. But I can't get the left one off. Been paranoid about bashing it with a sledge but thats what everyone else says to do too. Where do I strike it........straight on between the lugs? Or from the side, along the rim?

[Longhorn Man]

On the outer edge...basicly where the shoes make contact with the drum...except on the outside.

[Terry'sToy]

Yep just whale the pee out of them. I just did a truck that was sitting for 12 years. The backs wouldn't come off with a 1 1/2 pound so I used a 10 pounder. The popped right off. By the way, mine do not have holes either. I adjust the brakes until the drum is hard to get over the brakes.