How hard is a front rotor/pad swap? Its about time for new brakes, and I want to do it myself, but have not ever dealt with manual hub trucks.
Do the hubs have to be completly disassembled to get the rotors off, or do they come off as a whole?
I checked the FSM and it was pretty vauge in the brakes section.

Thanks

You take the dial off and then the hub body comes off as a whole off of the rotor. Not difficult at all. You will need a large socket for the wheel bearings, I think it is a 54mm or 2 1/8" size.
Jeff

You may want to check the Maint. section on this very forum...

It's not too bad if you are just replacing the rotors, and don't mess w/ the bearings or anything. That is where it starts to become a bigger pain, mess, and expense.

Either way, just to be prepared, it will be a big greasy mess when you get in there to remove the axle nuts. As it should be. And, as mentioned, you'll need a 54mm socket. Not easy to just find. it's also 2 1/8"; sears has them but their pricy.

Don't forget the 1/2"dr to 3/4"dr adapter to go with that...

Shhh, I left that out b/c I didn't want to take ALL the fun out of his experience...

Ok, so if I understand correctly, the dial comes off the hub, the 54mm nut comes off, then the hub/rotor assembly comes off, then separate the hub from the rotor, and assembly is the reverse? that sound right?

Also, what kind if grease should I use in the bearing areas?
When is gets super cold around here (around 10-15 degrees) the bearings will howl for a minute when first driving.

You will need to remove the hub body before you remove the 54mm nuts. There are the famous cone washers to deal with too.
Jeff

I just finnished mine last weekend it goes like this.
remove:
Caliper
Hub dial
C-clip (not as bad as some)
Hub Body (cone washers are allways fun)
54mm nut (don't forget to bend the lock washer tabs out of the way)
Lock whasher
Adjustment nut (54mm)
Thrust whasher
Outer bearing
Then the Rotor assembly comes off
Then unscrew the two nuts on the back
Then drive out the wheel studs
Then install in reverse and dot forget to properly install and seat the bearing.
One thing you might consider at this point is going to '81-'83 Lancruiser rotors and IFS pickup calipers It is a complete boltup swap and you get better cooling design for your brakes. Go here to check it out. www.barneymc.com/rtr_swap.htm

save your self some time and take the rotors to a machine shop to press out the old studs and press them back in with the new rotors.
even with a brass drift I have messed up the studs.
even using a brass hammer as a drift, much easier on the hands.
also you can't or should not use the lug nuts to try and pull the studs back in.