front drums w/o hubs?

pozet,

Thanks for posting the link. I always read about swage cutters, but never saw one and most brake shops today don't know what they are, even though many manufacturers swedged the studs in the 60's. I would try a cheaper hole saw or dremel cutter before paying $90 though.

I think the swage was just an assembly aid in the factory and not essential since replacement drums are never re-swaged. You see similar holding aids in newer cars. My minivans used a thin push washer to temporarily hold the rotor tight against the hub. Most Euro cars secure the rotor to the hub with a flat-head screw. But, you don't require either since the wheel holds the rotor or drum tight.

I have yet to deal with swaged studs since all my cars had replacement drums. Without a swage, I have always dropped/thrown the drum (inner-side down) on a parking lot a few times and the hub falls out.