That would be awesome, if it was just a simple fix. I will try your suggestion the next time I am near the truck.

Did you see this part of my post:

"The bad side has about 1/4"-1/2" of easy play and then locks up hard, this makes me suspect a differential or something other than the brake. Basically the brake backing plate is fixed but the drum will move fwd and back just a small amount."

Could it sill be a stuck drum???