No you don't need to remove the hubs. Just the tire and wheel assembly, and there should be 3 large slotted screws that attach the drum to the hub assembly (if someone hasn't already discarded them). If you have the money, I would replace everything. Brake linings, drums, wheel cylinders master cylinder and the power booster. I replaced all of these, and it cost me around $400, but since I did this my truck stops on a dime with very little pedal pressure, even with 39.5 tires. I can lock them up very easily if I need to. I was actually going to swap front ends so I could have power discs, but I see absolutely no reason to do that now, I couldn't be happier with my drum brakes. My 74 is not a daily driver, so longevity with the front shoes is not really an issue.
Well thank you for the info, I am glad to hear that I don't have to remove the hubs, less work is better at this point in my project. Anyway, I was planning on replacing everything because this truck sat for a real long time and I am not going to trust these old brakes to stop the truck when my daughter is in it with me and other peoples lives are at stake, there are a lot of things you can skimp on but I don't think brakes are one of them. I am gonna go outside in a little bit and see if I can shove that vacuum line directly in the booster, without the check valve on it, just so I am sure I am not replacing the booster when it was the 8 dollar chack valve the whole time, lol. I will post what I find later on. Oh, and any recomendations on where to get a complete brake kit for my truck for a good price?? -----Jack
So here is the update, I went outside last night and tried sticking the vacuum line directly into the booster without the check valve on and it didnt work, so while the truck was running I put my finger over the end of the line and it had vacuum but not a lot, so then with the truck running I took the line off the manifold and then the idle got crappy and I heard it sucking away like crazy, so then I looked inside the line and it was almost completly clogged, so I blew it out with air and it cleared up and I put everything back together and whammo! I had awesome brakes, the pedal is still a little low but I am planning on changing most of the brake parts anyway so I should be able to solve that. The only thing I did notice is that when I press on the brakes I hear a loud huff!! Come from under the dash, obviously from the booster, but is that normal, or is the booster on its way out? Anyway, I was happy to get my brakes working and was able to take the truck out on its maiden voyage around the block, its the first time I drove it since it limped its way in my driveway and I had to change the engine, cab and front clip. The truck ran absolutly terrific, it actually felt like a real truck. Anyway, that all for now, and thanks for all the help everyone. Jack
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