Need help getting rear drums off - puller?

[hpcgmc]

I'm trying to get the rear drums off my 67 GMC. Apparently I haven't checked the rear brake pads in 20 years or so - probably because I couldn't get the drums off! I've tried pb blaster, hitting as hard as I can with a deadblow hammer, trying to pound them off from the backside, etc. The e-brake is off, the brake adjusters are turned as far in as possible, there are no threaded holes to put in a bolt, and no clips or screws holding the hub on (all of these have been suggested in the numerous posts I've read).

Has anyone see a puller that is large enough to pull a drum brake? The biggest I found at Harbor Freight is only 10", and the hub is about 12". I checked Autozone for their tool rentals and they don't have anything big enough.

It seems like just hitting it with a hammer is not doing anything. The hubs will wiggle a little, but I can't see any movement between the hubs and the center of the axle.

Any ideas would be appreciated!

[hpcgmc]

Well, it took some work, but got them off. The key seemed to be finding the right size tool to pry the hubs from the backing plate. I used an L shaped arm off of a gear puller. This allowed me to pry on the hub and create a gap between the hub and the axle - I shot a bunch of PB blaster in the holes, so it would penetrate behind the hub, then beat on it with the deadblow hammer while prying. I rotated the wheel around and pried with the gear puller arm - around and around, til it popped loose.

I bought the biggest gear puller at Harbor Freight, but it wasn't big enough. I think that would have done the trick if it was big enough.

Hope this helps someone else.

[lolife99]

I always try to put a little never seize around the center hub of the axle when I reassemble the brakes.
This will help keep the drums from rusting to the axle.
Glad you got yours off.

[hpcgmc]

Good idea on the never seize. I just put some bearing grease on the hub and backing plate in hopes that will help me get them off in the future.