Brake Job from Hell

[hdflstf]

I finally broke down and got into redoing the brake system from top to bottom. Already had rear shoes from the PO, new calipers and wheel cylinders, new master cylinder, rebuild booster. Front pads coming this week. So I thought I was in good shape. So I start with the rears and the drums won't come off - first bad sign... After beating them for what seemed like an eternity (with a plastic hammer) I got the first one off. The drums had big grooves from the rivets in the pads and the primary pad was worn down to the backing. Automatic adjusters wouldn't turn and the wheel cylinders puked fluid once the rods were removed from the rubber covers.
So I run all over town and managed to find some replacement drums and hardware kits for the rear. Had a thought to check the pads the PO gave me - they are 2.75" wide instead of 2.5" wide like the truck - figures. So off I go to find pads...
Oh yeah, found another little problem, 3 of the 6 leafs are cracked all the way through. At least that explains why the truck doesn't sit quite level. Guess I'm in the market for some springs...
Started in on the front today. Not as bad as the rear - yet.. So far I have only found a mis-installed pad. It's simply amazing the truck stopped at all.