64 Dart Front Drum Removal (and more!)

All I know is, when I went to have a look at my brakes, many months back, I jacked her up, removed the tire, and figured, "a drum's a drum", (like the rears on my 74 Sport). Yet the dang drum didn't just slide off like I had expected. So I just replaced the tire and decided to worry about it later.
Now it's later.
I'm now hoping that when I remove the center nut/cotter pin, the drum (and just the drum) will come off, and be in good shape and then I can just replace the shoes, for now.

It's no surprise they don't make them that way any more.
It sort of seems less safe to have the studs as a 'part of the drum', rather than passing through the drum, though, it may make little to no difference safety-wise.

I wanted to replace the drums, bearings (as long as I'm in there), spring kit, the whole shebang, but it's going to depend on how involved (and expensive) this all turns out to be. If I can get all the parts for around say, $200.00, and do it myself, great!
I had no trouble at all doing the brakes on the Sport, once I bought that retaining pin install/removal tool!! Life can SUCK without one of those!!

If, however, this job entails machine shop work (to remove the old studs, and press the new ones (definitely new ones) into the new drums, or having to take the entire assembly off the car, well I don't know. I guess you gotta do what you gotta do.

CODFISH- You seem to imply that the studs do pass through the drum, but are also swaged on (?) so that the unit's not going to open until the "swages" are cut. (THE SWAYGES OF SIN IS DEATH!!!)

Quote:
"IF the drums are the factory originals, you will not be able to simply pull them off, even with the brakes adjusted loosely. The drums (on mine anyhow) are held to the wheel hub, via the wheel studs." -Codfish

THEN, in CAVEMANMORON's video link, the studs are attached to the drum, which comes off easily once you remove the center nut/cotter pin, making replacing the brake shoes relatively easy (like my Sport).
I'm hoping it works out like the video, whether I need new drums/lugs or not.

Oh, this IS fun!! :cheers: