Pete Miller

I am a novice mechanic trying to do a brake job for the first time and I cannot get the brake drum off the first rear wheel. Are there pullers made for such jobs? The parking brake is not on and I backed off the adjustment wheel. I tried light hammering around the drum and penetrating oil. I read the old post about starting the engine and putting in gear, sounds too scary. The drums were taken off by Les Schwab several years ago. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. 1996 CTD 2500 4WD Auto.

Stealth Mode

if they were like my 00 2500 diesel they don't just pull off... you have to take out the axle shafts. so take out the bolts in the center of the hub and slide the axle and drum will come off.. don't hold me to this.. trying to remember???? been years..

Geico266

Here ya go, this works every time. Jack up both rear wheels, remove tires and replace two lug nuts on each wheel by just 4-5 threads. Block the front tires for safety. Start the truck, put it in gear and hit the brake, put it in reverse and hit the brake. The drums come off easy after that. IDLE only. Make sure you have your foot on the brake (wheels stopped) before you shift into gear. The tranny will make all kinds of noise if you don't, but it won't hurt anything. Make sure you put the nuts on or you WILL be chasing the drums down the driveway!

I have done this several times no problems. I do not advise jacking up just one wheel at a time as the limited slip differential (if you have it) may make the truck move forward off the jack stand. (Don't ask me how I know that. )

While you are in the rear drums you might want to think about changing the rear wheel slave cylinders to 1 ton GMC's. Use the search for many threads about that. Works great. Better stopping power.

Let us know if you have any other questions.

BigBlue

Do geico's method. It works freaking awesome. Not to mentin it's pretty cool to watch. Just be sure you jack up both sides.

infidel

If stomping on the brakes at idle doesn't do it rev it up a bit, won't hurt a thing.
You can most always hear it when the drums break loose.

JKM

That's what i do right there ^^^ except i forgot to put the 2 nuts back on , that drum was going FAST when it rolled past my door...

Stamey

Chris

Geico266

You'll only do it once!

Shovelhead

ALWAYS PLACE JACKSTANDS under the vehicle when trying this method of drum removal!!!!!!!

P.O.R.

when you put it back together put some antisieze on,you will thank yourself next time...

russ300h

I've never known Les to put the drums back on properly!

infidel

No kidding.
If it only happened once it wouldn't surprise me
but since I know several people who have had a wheel come off after a visit to Schwab I have to wonder.
It isn't a result of loose lugs but rather too tight, breaking the studs off.

mx261

I bought my GM part# slave cylinders at United Auto here in wisconsin. Just for kicks i had them look up the dodge counter part to see the difference. It was the same part#!! the parts were listed as different but the they are the same. just thought id throw that in.

yarddog

How do you know this????


Are the D80's in these trucks full floaters? That's the only reason you'd need to pull the axle. If they are FF, that's one BEEFY axle.

2 busy

if you have the 8 bolts on the end of the axle , it is a full floating. they are not pinned in the differential.
at least that has been my observation on all brands i have owned.

you do not need to remove to take the drum off. in fact i have never had to remove an axle to take the brake drum off. not even on 1/2 tons.