How do I remove my rear hubs?

[MrTruck805]

Sorry for the newb question... but here goes:

I'm wondering how I can remove my rear hubs. The truck is an 89 fullsize jimmy, but the rear axle is from a 78 K5, so it is the 12 bolt.

As there seems to be no screw to loosen on the front, I'm assuming there is a way to retract the brake shoes so that the hub will just pull off? If this is the case, where would I find this piece of equipment that can adjust the shoes?

Thanks for any help!

 

[MrTruck805]

Here's a picture of the front of the hub. I will gladly take an post more pictures from the back or wherever if it would be useful.

(I had to do this in a separate post, as my previous one was my 5th and I couldn't insert an image link until I had 5 posts)

 

[jekquistk5]

get a hammer and knock the drum off. It helps if you loosen the adjuster for the shoes then hit it of. And wallla

 

[Deuling]

No tools needed. It should pull off. If it doesnt, get a bigger hammer

The shoes on the inside will wear down on the inside of the drums and make a small ridge making it harder to remove. If you can get them off I like to take a file to said ridge.

 

[80' 427]

You go through the oval hole with a brake spoon to retract the shoes, you need that and a big hammer.

 

[MrTruck805]

Gotcha, so that oval hole in the front is what I should be using (I thought that would be to adjust the e-brake).

I will mess around with that, and get a bigger hammer. Thanks for the help guys!

 

[Deuling]

Dont be surprised if the adjuster is froze up as well...

All that brake dust really locks em up tight. When I mess with drums I always toss them in a cup of penetrating oil to soak for a while.

 

[jekquistk5]

Dont be surprised if the adjuster is froze up as well...

All that brake dust really locks em up tight. When I mess with drums I always toss them in a cup of penetrating oil to soak for a while.

You did more then me. New wheel cylinders and adjusters are only a few bucks a wheel.

 

[Deuling]

Good point. I like how a wheel cylinder costs $5 and the rebuild kit costs $8.

 

[jeff in co]

Just be sure you are turning the star wheel the right way. I think you may have to get a second screwdriver in there to hold up the bracket to get the star wheel to loosen....

In the "#5 Box".....

http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/CSB/full.aspx?Page=173

 

[MrTruck805]

Good point. I like how a wheel cylinder costs $5 and the rebuild kit costs $8.

Another dumb question, but since you mentioned wheel cylinders.... that is why I'm actually taking the hub off... to replace those. Since the axles are from a 78 12 bolt, when I'm ordering online I should input my vehicle as a 78 correct? Thanks.

 

[Deuling]

Yes, but I wouldnt bother ordering online for such things. Autozone has them, easy enough, you dont even need to take all the brakes off. Disconnect the line, the 2 bolts on the back, slide it out, put new one in and connect back up. I got pretty good at it after doing a few of them