Rear Brake Drum Removal Question(s)

I believe that there are inspection slots on the backing plate for that axle. There should be one for each shoe. There is usually a tin or rubber cap over the slots. To get the drums off you have to remove the axles which will result in a small amount of oil being lost. Then you need a special socket to get at the axle bearing nuts. There should be two one lock nut and then the bearing adjusting nut. Then the drum should slide off. You may have to back off the brake adjuster if there is a lot of wear on the drum to get over the lip. Good Luck

There are inspection holes in the backing plate. Use them! You don't want to be taking a full floating rear axle and drum assembly off if you don't have to.

Ian

Well I am not so much worried about the shoe linings, I need to get in there and inspect the wheel cylinders and the parking brake mechanisims and all of that other good stuff that exists in drum brake land. I pulled the axle today and found behind it the funky 6 pin special nut style of bearing retainer. So I need now to go out and find one of those sockets. Any suggestions on where to get one of those besides the Mac or Snap on guy? Also, is it good enough to mark the retainer nut and simply return it to its exact position when I put everything back together (as I am not changing bearings) or will I have to reset the "preload" and all the headache that potentially entails...

Finally for what its worth this truck is somthing of a "toy" so I have no qualms about tearing into somewhat new things and getting my hands dirty and learning. *grin*

John

Napa has 'em

I haven't used the special socket in years. A good punch will remove/install it no problem.

No, don't attempt to "mark" the retaining nut. If you have one large nut with the small square dowel and retaining ring, then you simply tighten the nut until you have no freeplay, then tighten by hand further while turning the entire drum/hub assembly. Then loosen the nut until you can feel that you "some" freeplay. Now tighten the nut until you can feel that the freeplay is gone. Have a look at the relative position of the slots in the nut, and the one slot in the axle tube where the square dowel will go. Back off the nut to the closest slot, that will be where you want the bearing adjustment to be.

Well then, go for it. Just remember to install new seals (even if you just pulled apart, found nothing to repair, and are putting it back together again) and be careful installing them, as you can screw them up quite easily. Then you "will" be replacing rear brake shoes as they will have oil all over them.

Ian

I would suggest purchasing a "Chilton" or "Haynes" manual for your model truck. they are available at most auto parts stores. I have a manual for every vehicle I own. well worth the $10-$15 dollars they cost.

This is a good suggestion, but these manuals are written for people that have *some* basic mechanical knowledge. Some things are explicit, with good photos. Some things are vague so you should already know what they mean.

I just snug up the adjusting nut while spinning the wheel, then back it off slightly about a 1/4 turn. Then depending on what style lock nut you have. (some have a tin lock that you bend over some have a ring with holes in it to line up) you may have to adjust it to line up. Then install the outer nut and tighten it up good. then bend over the tin tabs, adjust your brakes, install sealer on axle and reinstall, top off rearend oil. Some people put a little gear oil in the hub of the wheel to prelube the bearings or after topping off rearend jack up opposite side to get the oil from the banjo to the wheel and let it sit for a few miniutes to fill the hub. Either way works ok.

Well I am not so much worried about the shoe linings, I need to get

Realising the axle bearing nut probably wasn't too tight I used the hammer and punch method to remove the bearing nut. Hell, I almost hit the thing to hard! It really is/was just past hand tight.

Egggs-cellent.....this is no too difficult...

Ahh the joys of working on an old truck....

Well what started out as a brake inspection has pretty much turned into a full on rear brake and brake line! replacement from almost the master cylender back. Even got new drums. The old ones were too shot to both trying to machine. Everything came from NAPA, looks like total parts and supplies is gonna end up costing me around $400 bucks, with the biggest chunks of chainge going to drums (~$130 each) and shoes ($99 for the set of

Regarding the line replacement, one had blown out from corrosion, the rest garbaged themselves as I attempted to remove each fitting.

Anyway hopefully when all is said and done I will be able to put myself through the windsheild in a manner of speaking when I hit the brakes! :)

Thanks for the heads up on the hub bearing seals. I would not have thought of that on my own.

In the end, this actually hasn't been too difficult a job. Nasty dirty and grimey, but not too difficult.

John

PS. In doing online research I found a good website on the GM 14 bolt corporate which was a lot of help as well, lots of pics, torque specs etc. etc.

Ok well, I guess I made myself sound pretty ignorant in my first post, but it was in part an effort to be entertaining, I'm new here. I have been shadetreeing for about 15 years, but mostly on German cars, not old american trucks so I'm moderately competant I guess, but my knowledge is a bit lacking in certain items. ie, I can tear down and replace drum brakes on a car in no time, but with this truck i was like "who the hell took the brake drums and replced them with these giant finned cast iron mixing bowls?! And how the hell do they come off???" yah dig? I have the Haynes manual (somewhere..can't find it lately)and I found it was OK, but the year/make/model spread is just way too far for anything resembling detail.

John

PS. Quick poll, how many people have used a Haynes Manual and thrown a tool across the room at the instruction "installation is the reverse of removal"?

That's why I LOVE the GM service manual I have for my 2000. It details the steps going in both directions. Not that I need them, once I get the thing apart, re-assembly is REALLY easy.

Ha! I'm replying to my own post....

Anyone know where I can get a new proportioning valve?

I havnt tried the local dealer yet, but it sucks for parts usually.

John