Removing Front brake drums

The front brake drum is being rather persnickety... it almost looks like the warn hubs have to be removed to get the drums off. But that doesn't make logical sense to me... Do the Hubs stay or go?

 

Stock hubs stay on. Just pull the wheel and then back off the brake cam through the access hole in the backing plate. Thast will release the shoe preassure and the drum should slip off.

Alternatively, if the cam refuses to budge or you still cannot get the drum off, get a 5lb sledge and wack the drum on the edges alternating between top and bottom and left and right. Don't worry you won't hurt it. I got a drum off of a truck that sat in a junkyard for years with this method. Works everytime

 

My new Warn hubs won't clear the drums, the washers under the bolts are too big (very minor issue). You may need to remove the locking hubs, or at least the bolts, to get the drums off.

 

I've attached a pic to make certain, before I start banging on stuff ,that these are the stock hubs, etc. I would certainly be a happy camper not to have to takes apart the hubs at this moment in time. The silver bit just pulls off, yes? Otherwise it looks like getting to the bolt heads is an impossibility. The rear brakes were difficult to get off, but I managed.

 

Mine did not have that chrome cylinder thing on the hub but I did have the same locking hubs. I would give it a few raps with a sledge. It should come off. Anyone disagree?

 

I disagree. I can't see it ever coming off with those lug nuts still on there.

 

the silver ring thing is just a wheel trim ring. I would take that off and toss it in the trash... I would try getting the adjuster to back off before I started mauling it with a hammer tho. Hammer should be a last resort. I also agree the lug nuts gotta go ;D

 

My 67 Jeepster has a D27 and the Warn hubs have to be removed. The CJ may have a different setup not sure when they changed over to the new style. If it is the older style like mine there is a ring with a set screw behind the hub that must be taken out to release the bearing and allow the brake drum to come off. The set screw(s) are recessed in a hole and not easy to find due to the the grease present but it is there and there may be several set screws as there are several holes in the ring. One of mine has 2 set screws and the other only has 1 so check all of the holes to be sure. Looks like your is a similar setup so I would say you will need to remove the hubs. It is hard to tell from the pics with the chrome cover in the way. Hope it helps and good luck.

-MM