52 Chevy Brakes
 

I was told that the drum should separate from the wheel hub. What am I doing incorrect? Is the hub riveted to the drum? I'm having the same problem with the rear.

https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFile...um-1065715.jpg

Re: 52 Chevy Brakes
 

did you try deadblow hammer?.try a hitting with ballpein hammer in between the studs .some they just stuck....has the truck been sitting a longtime? did you release the brake pads?...some newer model trucks have a countersunk screw holding drums and rotors

Re: 52 Chevy Brakes
 

Truck has been sitting for ten years but who knows how long it's been since the drums were off. A very large hammer is in use with lots of tension on the puller. I pulled the entire hub and drum off so I know the brake shoes are not the problem. I did try putting some heat where the drum meets the hub but all I have is a little propane torch.

Re: 52 Chevy Brakes
 

If the drums have a groove from the pads it won't slide off. How far did you back them off?

From the back you could maybe cut the retaining pins if you plan to replace hardware....

Usually I just beat the crap out of them, I go all around with a small sledge hammer. No light taps.

Re: 52 Chevy Brakes
 

I have used a hammer all the way around. I removed the spindle nut and removed the hub and drum as an assembly so I know the brake shoes are not the problem. The drum is seized to the hub I guess. I'll have to keep trying.

What are the three rivets for on the drum?

Re: 52 Chevy Brakes
 

Oh! I think I misunderstood. So you can remove the drum with the hub and leave the backing plate and shoes still on the truck? Did you see those three rivets through on the back of the hub?

Re: 52 Chevy Brakes
 

Those rivets arnt usually replaced, so I'm surprised you have them. Grind them off and punch them out or drill them out. I wouldn't bother replacing them.

Re: 52 Chevy Brakes
 

I'll have to pull the hub again and look for the rivets.

Re: 52 Chevy Brakes
 

Yea, if you can pull it off they. Grind or drill them out and call it good.

Re: 52 Chevy Brakes
 

So those rivets are holding the drum to the hub?

Re: 52 Chevy Brakes
 

Yep...

Re: 52 Chevy Brakes
 

Yea if you pull it all off again you should see rivet heads on opposite side of hub. You don't have too remove them... but replacing brakes or maybe getting drum turned would sure be easier.

Re: 52 Chevy Brakes
 

Do the rears have the same set up?

Re: 52 Chevy Brakes
 

I wouldn't be surprised since you have rivets on the front. Can you remove the hub and drum the same way? Does it have three nubs like the front?

Re: 52 Chevy Brakes
 

I'm pretty sure it can't be removed the same as the front as I think it is a one piece axle.

Re: 52 Chevy Brakes
 

I only took apart the factory front, and I'm using a different rear end. Can you provide a picture of the rear drum?

Re: 52 Chevy Brakes
 

No the rears just come off the hub but unless you are going to replace the drum WHY are you trying to pull the drum off the hub rather than pulling hub and all? It is the pits to do a brake job with that hub in the way and you have to pack the wheel bearings anyhow.

Re: 52 Chevy Brakes
 

On those rivets, a lot of guys end up grinding them off when they mount aftermarket wheels or even some later model wheels on that hub/drum combo because the rivets keep some wheels from fitting flush.

Again, there is no viable reason to remove the drum from the hub unless you are replacing the drum.

Re: 52 Chevy Brakes
 

I've never worked on this era of Chevy truck before and I don't recall ever working on a vehicle with drums on the front all of my other vehicles have had disc brakes on front. I initially assumed that the drum should just pop off like it would the rear. I even called and spoke to someone at CCTP and they informed me that the drum should separate from the hub. All of the pictures on CCTP show just a drum without a hub in the center. So here I am trying to separate the two.

Now that I've got some help from more knowledgeable folks I'll cease trying to pull the drum and just remove the hub from the spindle.

Re: 52 Chevy Brakes
 

yeah, not many riveted drum/ hub combos left, probably