Having spent the warmer past few days painting the forward axle components, tonight it was the turn of the rear left axle hub to be dismantled. This seemed very simple after the front ones! Everything came apart easily, although coated in a goo made of brake fluid and dirt. Once the brake shoes were off, it was quickly apparent that the shoe pivots on the backing plate were loose here too, and given that the shoes, cylinder and now backing plate were all scrap, it was just a matter of taking the brake backing plate off with everything attached and throwing it out. Axle casing, drive shaft, and stub shaft all in good shape, and new backing plates ordered. Brake line fitting into the cylinder was a rusted corroded mess, impossible to remove, so the brake line was simply cut.
View here of the drive shaft and stub axle.
The main hub castings, after a cleaning and inspection. The bearings are in perfect shape, so they'll be staying. The parts below are from the hand brake, waiting for the painted parts to come back (the newly painted parts are drying/curing the the warmth and dryness of the basement).
A view of the rear axle casing hub with everything removed.
A look inside the axle casing towards the differential, off in the distance.
Not much left of the axle bumper stop! Strap fittings may need replacing.
Finally, a view forward. Note the corrosion in the aluminum where the steel bolts passed through. The corrosion will be neutralised and large washers will help strengthen the area when all is back together.
