drum replacement

[prosparky475]

So am I correct that that the rear drums and the axle shaft housing are one piece? If so I have the wrong new drums or after you remove the axle shaft and the drum will the shaft housing come apart from the drum?

[john]

Drums are a separate and removable item on cars and 1/2 ton trucks (semi-floating axle). Older 3/4 ton axles (full floating axle) have drum and hub semi-permanently held together by the lug bolts . I have destroyed old drums, even breaking them in half, removing them from hub on semi-floaters. Full floaters (3/4 ton and up), I take to machine shop for the drum swap and new lug bolts. You didn't mention what vehicle you're working on. John, Tyler, TX

[prosparky475]

My bad. A 69 W200

[john]

You have a full-floater. Pull the axle shafts. Remove the spindle nuts. Hub and drum come off as a single unit. As I mentioned before, I've always taken hub/drum to machine shop for the actual swap. I only wish I'd have gone with all standard right hand threaded lug bolts rather than left hand thread on the left side. I believe that, at some point in modern history, the drums became removable without a full tear down but I can't verify which one's. John, Tyler, TX