I have a '79 F250 Pick-up with a Dana 61 rear axle, 8 lug wheels. I am in need of info/procedure to remove rear brake drums for inspection. I know I need to remove the axle flange screws and pull axle out. What size socket is needed to remove bearing nut, and who makes the socket, source, MAC, Snap-On, etc.? Is a special thin wall socket required? Also, what comes out of the bearing area next? Any shims? Any other precautions I should be aware of? Any torque values on nut, or just adjust nut tightness to give a snug feel on wheel bearings similar to a front wheel bearing? Thanks for any advice, suggestions. John

 

it's a special hub nut socket....get a chilton's or haynes manual. these full floater's are difficult to explain at the very least.

 

not sure if your axle is the same as mine. trying to find out in the clutch, transmission, differential axle and transfer case forums right now (with little to no success). not sure if mine is a dana 60 or dana 61. but anyways, i had this same problem recently and hit every parts store in the area. no one had or had ever even heard of one of these sockets. then i went to napa- finally someone who wasn't a complete idiot got me what i needed. it was a 2 9/16" socket made from cheap stamped steel. only about $15 if i remember right, and they had it in stock. my truck is a 77 f250, 400, c6.

you may need to replace the axle seals after you pull the axle, and it would be a good idea to have a catch pan handy cuz when you pull the axle oil will spill everywhere.

 

Most of the the drums on the 250s will come off the bearing hubs without removing anything , just use a big hammer and wack the drum and it will usually just pop off or some have a countersunk head screw holding the drum on the hub

 

A 79 will have the drum pressed on the studs, requiring the hub to be removed. The drums were removable without the hubs in the mid 80's, however you'll still see both. Don