Removing coaster brake from Shimano Nexus 4 hub?
 

I built my first IGH bicycle around this hub. It works OK, but I don't like coaster brakes. Is it possible to remove the brake and use the hub without it?

No. The coaster (back-pedal) brake is an integral part of the hub and not removable. The easiest and cheapest way to convert to a non-coaster-brake hub is to lace in a non-coaster-brake Nexus hub. Judging by a quick survey of the usual internal-hub sellers, 4-speed Nexus hubs aren't easily available.

This comment on hubstripping.com might make you want to try, but you'd want to be very sure you could get the whole thing back together:

Do you know if it is possible to completely disable the coaster brake on a Nexus 7 hub, and if so, how?

@Peter: Yes, it’s possibile to disable the coaster brake. I had a Nexus 7 and did it without any hint. You have to remove the left cup (that with the brake arm) and carefully extract the brake drum. It consists in two metal half rings, covered with grease (don’t remove it).
It worked nice for me.

Here's a parts list/schematic diagram if you want to try...

Thanks guys!
Jeff -After seeing the exploded view, I think the brake as a whole cannot be removed, but maybe I could just remove the shoes to disable it.
rcschafer - great links!

Reynolds: Why go to the trouble of dismantling something which is working? Just don't use the coaster brake if you don't want to. I restored an old Schwinn Collegiate for my wife which had a 3-speed coaster brake hub. I just put on a rear caliper brake and left it at that.