I pulled the wheel thinking I could just pull the rear drum off and replace the rear parking brake cable easily. Not so little brother... Do I really have to pull the axle out in order to get the drum off or am I missing something much less sinister right in front of me?

Would I need a new driveline in order to put in a super-duty trans mounted parking brake? Looks like a cool swap if it could be done without too much pain.

 

On my 97 F350 the drum comes off with out pulling the axle.

 

Your drum will come straight off, may take some beating, rotating, and cussing,. but it will come off. You have to brake the rust seal on the center of the hub. Just did mine yesterday.

 

I am not sure of the year cut off but the older ones you had to remove the axle, nut and wheel bearing. But the newer ones the drum just slides off