change shoe 83 gmc

joeydeherrera54 · 10-31-2007, 07:18 PM

ok i am trying to change out the shoe on an 83 gmc 1500 but it has a 3/4 ton axles and from what im told it has floating axles i dont know if that would make a difference or not but i have been beating with a hammer to try to get it loose but its not budgeing i know they are really bad i dont have back brake at all i tried stoping the other day and almost hit a school bus cause of it so any idea an how to get them off and also do i have to pull the axles out since they are attacted to the drum

mudseeker · 10-31-2007, 07:54 PM

there may be a lot of rust build up on the back of the drums that you may need to remove with a hammer or wire wheel. also if the drums are real bad the shoes may have worn a groove in the drums, preventing them from being removed. if you can not back the shoes off with the adjuster, then you will need to get a special puller and pull the drum off that way. it will ruin all the brake hardware so be prepared to purchase a hardware kit, which you should get anyway.

crabtruck · 10-31-2007, 09:22 PM

Semi-floating or full floating seperates pulling just the drum or having to take axle too I think.
You should be able to tell by looking at the hub. Got pics ?

You more than likely have some serious rusting of drum to axle from the sounds of it.
Soak the seam in penetrating oil and tap the face of drum to get some vibration loosening of it.
You may also need to do the same with a block working your way around the circle.
They can be bad enough to feel welded on.
If you have absolutely no wiggle from the drum it's probably not the shoes holding it.
If the shoes are worn into the drum and you can't get to the adjuster from the rear to back it off,
look for a knockout on face of drum and use a loop of wire and screw driver from that side.
If you do knock it out make sure to get a plug for it.
Patience, soaking and vibration usually gets it. Agree with Mud, spend the $6 for springs.

75K30 · 10-31-2007, 10:05 PM

The axle is entirely seperate from the drum. You will have to remove the 8 bolts from the axle flange to get the axle out. Then you will have to remove the gigantic nuts from behind the axle flange. Only then will the drum, and hub come off. Once removed the drum is attached via the wheel studs. You will have to remove every stud to seperate the drum from the hub. Once you do, the rest is easy, and you can make your change or modification.
One question though: How do you know you have to change a spring if you can't get the drum assembly apart?
Rear brakes do a small percentage of stopping. If you have had a bad encounter, it may not be aresult of poor rear brakes. May have to look elsewhere.
I have driven a few of my rides with zero brakes in the rear, and have been able to stop fairly well.
The front brakes do most of the stopping.

crabtruck · 11-01-2007, 01:59 AM

Agreed that you should be suspicious of the front brakes or some other problem, but I'm still curious about which setup you have since they're all "floating" axles. What does it look like ?

Blackwolf14804 · 11-01-2007, 06:29 AM

Going to either need the special socket for those 2 nuts or a cold chisel and hammer. Watch your threads, you mar them, you're done.

joeydeherrera54 · 11-03-2007, 06:53 PM

i know they are full floating axles and i know the its the back brake because i can stop but when i do it not as fast and also you can here some like metal on metal noises coming from the brakes and also because i bought the truck from my dad and he had the drums off at one point but didnt change the shoes i dont know why cause i just talked to him and he said the drums had a really bad groove in it but he is telling me you dont have to pull the axle

joeydeherrera54 · 11-03-2007, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 75K30

The axle is entirely seperate from the drum. You will have to remove the 8 bolts from the axle flange to get the axle out. Then you will have to remove the gigantic nuts from behind the axle flange. Only then will the drum, and hub come off. Once removed the drum is attached via the wheel studs. You will have to remove every stud to seperate the drum from the hub. Once you do, the rest is easy, and you can make your change or modification.
One question though: How do you know you have to change a spring if you can't get the drum assembly apart?
Rear brakes do a small percentage of stopping. If you have had a bad encounter, it may not be aresult of poor rear brakes. May have to look elsewhere.
I have driven a few of my rides with zero brakes in the rear, and have been able to stop fairly well.
The front brakes do most of the stopping.

i didnt say anything about changeing a spring

joeydeherrera54 · 11-03-2007, 06:56 PM

i am planing on getting new drums so i think im going to just use my torch and heat it up that should make it come off right and also i was wondering how good are the full floating axles?

75K30 · 11-03-2007, 09:33 PM

It is impossible to remove a drum for a FF rear axle without removing the axle.
You many have a semi floater.

Here is a step by step.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billav..._bible/14b.pdf

10-31-2007, 07:18 PM	#1
joeydeherrera54 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: grand junction colorado Posts: 72	change shoe 83 gmc ok i am trying to change out the shoe on an 83 gmc 1500 but it has a 3/4 ton axles and from what im told it has floating axles i dont know if that would make a difference or not but i have been beating with a hammer to try to get it loose but its not budgeing i know they are really bad i dont have back brake at all i tried stoping the other day and almost hit a school bus cause of it so any idea an how to get them off and also do i have to pull the axles out since they are attacted to the drum

10-31-2007, 07:54 PM	#2
mudseeker Moderator Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: michigan Posts: 3,919	there may be a lot of rust build up on the back of the drums that you may need to remove with a hammer or wire wheel. also if the drums are real bad the shoes may have worn a groove in the drums, preventing them from being removed. if you can not back the shoes off with the adjuster, then you will need to get a special puller and pull the drum off that way. it will ruin all the brake hardware so be prepared to purchase a hardware kit, which you should get anyway. __________________ member map add yourself

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10-31-2007, 09:22 PM	#3
crabtruck Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 1,464	Semi-floating or full floating seperates pulling just the drum or having to take axle too I think. You should be able to tell by looking at the hub. Got pics ? You more than likely have some serious rusting of drum to axle from the sounds of it. Soak the seam in penetrating oil and tap the face of drum to get some vibration loosening of it. You may also need to do the same with a block working your way around the circle. They can be bad enough to feel welded on. If you have absolutely no wiggle from the drum it's probably not the shoes holding it. If the shoes are worn into the drum and you can't get to the adjuster from the rear to back it off, look for a knockout on face of drum and use a loop of wire and screw driver from that side. If you do knock it out make sure to get a plug for it. Patience, soaking and vibration usually gets it. Agree with Mud, spend the $6 for springs.

10-31-2007, 10:05 PM	#4
75K30 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,507	The axle is entirely seperate from the drum. You will have to remove the 8 bolts from the axle flange to get the axle out. Then you will have to remove the gigantic nuts from behind the axle flange. Only then will the drum, and hub come off. Once removed the drum is attached via the wheel studs. You will have to remove every stud to seperate the drum from the hub. Once you do, the rest is easy, and you can make your change or modification. One question though: How do you know you have to change a spring if you can't get the drum assembly apart? Rear brakes do a small percentage of stopping. If you have had a bad encounter, it may not be aresult of poor rear brakes. May have to look elsewhere. I have driven a few of my rides with zero brakes in the rear, and have been able to stop fairly well. The front brakes do most of the stopping.

11-01-2007, 01:59 AM	#5
crabtruck Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 1,464	Agreed that you should be suspicious of the front brakes or some other problem, but I'm still curious about which setup you have since they're all "floating" axles. What does it look like ?

11-01-2007, 06:29 AM	#6
Blackwolf14804 Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Almond, NY Posts: 72	Going to either need the special socket for those 2 nuts or a cold chisel and hammer. Watch your threads, you mar them, you're done.

11-03-2007, 06:53 PM	#7
joeydeherrera54 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: grand junction colorado Posts: 72	i know they are full floating axles and i know the its the back brake because i can stop but when i do it not as fast and also you can here some like metal on metal noises coming from the brakes and also because i bought the truck from my dad and he had the drums off at one point but didnt change the shoes i dont know why cause i just talked to him and he said the drums had a really bad groove in it but he is telling me you dont have to pull the axle

11-03-2007, 06:56 PM	#9
joeydeherrera54 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: grand junction colorado Posts: 72	i am planing on getting new drums so i think im going to just use my torch and heat it up that should make it come off right and also i was wondering how good are the full floating axles?

11-03-2007, 09:33 PM	#10
75K30 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,507	It is impossible to remove a drum for a FF rear axle without removing the axle. You many have a semi floater. Here is a step by step. http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billav..._bible/14b.pdf