drum brakes removal

[rick0312]

I can't remove the drum on a 69 1/2T. Is there something I am not doing right. I don't see any bolt hole I can use to back the drum off. This is my first time changing chevy drums. How do I get these suckers off?

Thanks

Rick

[krue]

Front or rear? Front is held on with the hub (unless someone has already ground the rivets holding them together off.)

Either on should have a hole in the bottom of the backing plate to use a screwdriver to back off the adjuster.

[rick0312]

front...i just realized that I need to remove the hub nut in order to pull the front drums off. ........Thanks....Do the rear drums slide off after i losen the adjuster?

[neonlarry]

Yes, rears should come off, sometimes they need a little persuasion. On the fronts once you get them off grind off the rivets that hold them to the hub, it will make the job much easier next time.

[Longhorn Man]

I've never seen a 70 and older 1/2 ton with slots in the backing plates. They were always on the drum it's self. However, the replacements don't have the hole and you have to grind it out yourself.

[purple gas]

Ya,, what longhorn said. I bought the cheaper drums that don't have adjuster holes in them. If a person drilled holes in them whould that not throw them out of ballance? Unless you drilled holes on 2 sides of the drum to balance it out? Maybe it's a sign that I should just convert to disks?

[Longhorn Man]

I never noticed a ballance issue when I did that to mine, and I know I had it to at least 105 MPH.