Rosa,

You're saying the drum is welded to the axle flange - so you can't possibly get the drum off the axle to turn the drum for new brakes.....

I've never heard of this (and I'm pretty old) and it makes no sense to me....but then neither does one-ply toilet paper.

Hey! Guys - ever heard of this?

 

I about as sure as I can be that NO 1953 drums were welded to the axles at the factory. None of the parts books show that, none of the service manuals show it, and it don't make sense - even to Fergie.

Rosa, on my F-250 the rear drums were an absolute bear to get off. I have to admit I was really considering the possibility that they were one piece with the axle hubs or were welded on. In the end, the crud and crap all came loose in the seam and I did manage to get them off without destroying anything. There was quite a bit of rust buildup right at the seam with the axle and I was thinking that maybe they look like welds on your truck but it's really rust and hard crud??? Not trying to say you don't know what a weld looks like or anything but your truck has had a lot of years to figure out ways to fool you.

Try the standard remedies - heat, penetrating oil, some sharp raps with a soft drift and a big hammer. The drift is especially good at loosening stuff up if you hit the drum straight on between the studs and the axle.

You might also try a chisel on the weld stuff and see if it fractures and comes loose. Some of the rust on my frame looked just like real metal until I hit it with a hammer and busted it up. Use a light touch so you don't trash you drum or axle! Good luck.