K30 DRW Brake Drum Removal HELP!!!

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Trucksareforwork

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Hey folks.

I’m at the point in messing around with an old K3500 GMC’s brakes where I’m going nuts and realizing I may not know what I’m doing.

Full disclosure, this is not my first drum brake rodeo. I have beaten the hell out of rusty drums before… but I’m just stumped.

I have beaten, pb blastered, beaten, heated, beaten, and ultimately not budged the drum a millimeter over the past week. And now I’m ready for somebody to tell me I’m stupid.

Here’s the pic:

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Tell me what I have and why I can’t get the drum to move. I have a feeling now that I’m looking at a spacer or cover that might be holding the drum on. I just dove in and started beating on it.

This would not be the first time I beat the hell out of something when just unscrewing it would work.

Does anybody recognize this? Truck was a factory srw, converted to DRW.
 

Turbo4whl

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Tell me what I have and why I can’t get the drum to move. I have a feeling now that I’m looking at a spacer or cover that might be holding the drum on. I just dove in and started beating on it.
You have a full floating axle and it does NOT come apart with a hammer. Back away from the truck, buy a book or search this forum.
 

Trucksareforwork

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Here. She knows how to do it.

I am standing here humiliated for not stopping to consider the difference in axle. I’ve done 12 bolt, 10 bolt, and other oddball drums… just didn’t even stop to think.

All I have lost is time and a bunch of nicks on a drum that probably needed replacing anyway (that’s my story and I’m sticking to it).

Thanks for the quick reply.
 

Edelbrock

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You have a full floating axle and it does NOT come apart with a hammer. Back away from the truck, buy a book or search this forum.



Pretty sure with the correct hammer, it would come apart.
 

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Turbo4whl

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I disagree with her method of removing the studs. I put the nut back on flush with the top of the stud. I hold a brass mallet on the nut and stud with one hand, then hit it with at least with a 3 pound hammer, or a hammer like @Edelbrock posted.

Another tip, when you go to put the axle back in, it will stop at the differential. Push down on the axle flange and spin it a little, it will go in.
 

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