Two Piece Front Drums

[69Beeper]

I owned a 68 RR many years ago where the front drum came off like the rear ones, leaving the "hub" on the spindle. I thought it was odd at the time and was only familiar with the one piece design. Fast forward to a week ago, when I picked up a 68 RR 4spd. This thing has the same setup- drum separates from hub. Also, I know where there is a 70 Super Bee with the same front brake situation as well. Can anyone shed some light on this? My 69 RR has a one piece drum/ hub. :icon_sad:

 

[nothingbutdarts]

Read here, they are all a 2 piece but swedged.

http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/mopar...37847-Replacement-wheel-hub&highlight=swedged

 

[Dako]

My guess is that at some point the drum may have been replaced or removed earlier on in the cars life to be 'turned' during a brake job. They are all removable...it's just that they become much harder to remove after many years.

I removed mine from the hub to replace the 1 broken (and 4 good) LH studs with RH thread. Took a couple hrs, some heat, and a hydraulic press...but it is now a removable drum.

Side Note:
I have 4 usable front LH 1/2x20 studs if anybody needs one. Also have 5 rear studs of the same size...and yes, fronts are different from rears.

 

[69Beeper]

Thank you for the info. I understand now that it is a two piece assembly. My question now becomes: was it the intent that the drums pull off the hub when servicing the brakes? Or because they were swedged, the entire assembly was designed to be removed together?

Thanks!

 

[69Bee]

Thank you for the info. I understand now that it is a two piece assembly. My question now becomes: was it the intent that the drums pull off the hub when servicing the brakes? Or because they were swedged, the entire assembly was designed to be removed together?

Thanks!

The whole assy is serviced together. There is no need to remove the drum to have it turned, but it would become that way if you have the need to remove the studs. Pre 70 (69 and lower) had LH stusd on the left side, and many people replace them with RH studs as these are more common. I am not too sure why it took a couple of hours to replace the studs, with an air hammer, you can do it in about 5 min.

 

[Dako]

Thank you for the info. I understand now that it is a two piece assembly. My question now becomes: was it the intent that the drums pull off the hub when servicing the brakes? Or because they were swedged, the entire assembly was designed to be removed together?

Thanks!

That, I don't know. I do know that back in the late 70's my `72 Dodge pickup had drums that came off with the hubs....until I took them in to get turned. When I went to pick them up, the shop had separated the drums from the hubs...I assume to mount them on the turning lathe. I installed them on the truck (in two pieces), then continued to take them off for brake changes via the hub nut after that. I owned that pickup for 20+ years. When they later needed re-turning or replacing, I would tap the drum off the hub with a hammer.

- - - Updated - - -

Actually, I tried the air hammer 1st. Don't know if it was do to 40+ years of farm life or just metal fused together, but in my particular case, the air hammer was not knocking any of the studs loose. I ended up having to support the hub from underneath with a deep well pneumatic socket large enough to fit over the studs head, then press each out with a 30 ton hydraulic arbor press...1st one, I thought broke something by the loud bang experienced...it was the swedging at the front of the stud knurling. Once all 5 studs were out, I went ahead and pressed out the hub so I could ensure the center of the drum had not gotten bent, as we were flexing it quite a bit prior to placing the socket behind the hub. This part entailed heating the drum a bit to get it to realese from the hub. I had to wait for it to cool so I wouldn't bend it in when using the press. For some reason, replacement drums for the front cost WAY more than for the rear. :dontknow:

As for the studs in the axle...they came out real easy with a hammer and some controlled tapping. Unfortunately I don't have LH threads on the driver's side anymore. Upside is I have less fear of somebody 'helping me' work on the car and twisting one off...that's what got me into the mess in the 1st place! Lol

 

[Cranky]

I bought a 72 Challenger in 74 that had LH studs on the left side both front and rear. I highly doubt someone put them on there..... I think 72 or 73 was the last year for that but it worked. If you didn't get them tight enough, the left side with right handed studs would loosen until they came off. As for the two piece drum and hub....they were swedged together like mentioned and were serviced as a unit.

 

[69Beeper]

Thanks fellas. Seems like things would work either way!