I'm repairing the rear brakes on a 1977 Chevy 3/4 ton with a 10.5" pumpkin and full float axles. The rear drum is secured with two identical ring nuts. They are 2.5 inches in diameter and have 6 slots in the ring. The Haynes manual shows a special socket that is used to tighten them. The socket looks very similar to one they sold at the parts shop that is supposed to be used on 4WD axles. I test fitted the ring nut to the 4WD socket. The socket is about 1.5 to 2mm larger larger than the ring nut.
Question: Should I be looking for a 2WD rear axle nut socket, or does this 4WD socket work for 2WD 3/4 tons as well? I did not think it fit as well as it should considering the amount of torque that is supposed to be applied to the outer ring nut - 250 lbs-ft. per the Haynes manual, but this was for 1988 - 1999 trucks. They did not have a manual that covered 1977 trucks.
Here's a link to a tool that looks identical to the one shown in the Haynes manual:
Apologies for the lengthy post.
Joe F.