How to Change the Brake Drums on a 1966 CJ Jeep

The 1966 Jeep models used drum brakes on all four wheels. The drums have the wheel studs pressed into them and are attached to the axle and hub with a castle nut and key in the axle shaft. Changing the drums requires some skill, but if you take this repair task one step at a time, it should be easily completed. The drums for the 1966 CJ Jeep are not sold through a Jeep dealer, so you will need to find a specialty shop or supplier in order to purchase replacement drums.

Instructions

1

Loosen the lug nuts on the wheel studs with a lug wrench. Do not remove the lug nuts completely until the tire is off the ground.

2

Position a jack under the axle and raise the Jeep until the tires are off the ground. Position a set of jack stands under the axle, then lower the Jeep, allowing it to rest securely on the stands. Remove the lug nuts, then pull the tire and wheel from the Jeep.

3

Locate the cotter pin in the end of the axle, retaining the castle nut. Remove the cotter pin with a pair of needle-nose pliers and discard it. Remove the castle nut with a socket and breaker bar, turning it counter-clockwise.

4

Locate the flat washer under the castle nut and pull it out. Set it aside for now. Install a brake drum puller on the drum, in order to separate it from the hub. Most brake drum pullers use three arms that attach to the wheel studs. Turning the center shaft with a socket and ratchet will pull the drum off the shaft. Be sure to keep the key that comes out with the drum when you remove it.

5

Place the key in the key way on the axle and slide the new brake drum onto the shaft, being sure to align the key way in the drum with the installed key. If you do not align the key and the key way, the drum will not go on.

6

Install the flat washer over the end of the axle shaft, followed by the castle nut. Tighten the castle nut, drawing the drum onto the hub of the Jeep. Torque the castle nut to 150 pounds-feet with a torque wrench, then align the grooves in the nut with the hole in the axle shaft.

7

Insert a new cotter pin into the hole in the axle shaft and bend the end of the cotter pin to secure it with a pair of pliers. Install the wheel onto the wheel studs; install the lug nuts and hand-tighten them.

8

Raise the Jeep off the jack stands with the jack; remove the stands from under the axle and lower the Jeep to the ground. Tighten the lug nuts completely with a lug wrench.