Drum Brake Problem

[65Rob]

I just redid everything in the rear (65 stang, 8" rear, 10" brakes) axle seals, bearings, whl cylinders, shoes, new drums, etc. Well the new drums don't fit, measured the old ones and they're a full 1/8" bigger inside diameter. Now they may be 50 years old and have been turned a bunch, who knows but bottom line is the new ones are way too small. The part number is correct so I have another pair coming in today to see if they're different.

Has anybody else had this problem? Having the simplest of things bog you down like this is getting on my nerves.

 

[horse sence]

Try setting one of the shoes inside the drum and see if it rides correctly inside it .Did you run the adjusters back in ?

 

[65Rob]

Adjusters are all the way in and I put the old shoes back on to see if that was the problem. It wasn't, drum doesn't fit over the old shoes either. Went and checked out the next set of drums they brought in and they are even smaller, turns out they are a good 1/16" smaller than they are supposed to be so they are being turned to spec. Unfortunately we don't get quality parts anymore so this is starting to become the norm.

 

[horse sence]

Thats weird ,I guess that is what happens when things are no longer made in America .I have noticed a lot of bad parts lately my self

 

[horse sence]

Is there enough material to turn the new drums?

 

[65Rob]

Well that plan just went down the toilet. They checked the new drums again with their new hi tech digital caliper and it's to spec (around 10.001) so we're all at a loss as to why they don't fit. My old ones measure 10.067 & 10.072, they can legally turn them to 10.06 but are very reluctant to as they figure they will warp, the new Chinese stuff isn't made with the quality of the old stuff. They figure I'm way better off to clean up the old drums and use them so for now I guess that's the plan.

I need to get the car back on it's feet with all suspension, motor, trans, etc. in it so I can start hanging sheet metal on it for final body work. I guess I can explore a rear disc brake upgrade at some point later.