Technical Best Reproduction Early Ford Brake Drums

I bought some repos years ago from Sacramento Ford and then from C & G, both sets where warped badly out of the box. I believe both sets came from the same manufacture (back then I believe it was some outfit in Oregon or Washington), even though they were bought years apart all 4 (8 in total) were warped.

The first set I though I would just turn them, I took about .040 off and they were still not totally clean and I ran them. A few years later I bought from another repo dealer, they were also warped and wanted me to pay shipping back....so I cut them and ran them. I was going to go with MT Lincoln brake drum next time as they're machined inside and out.

I would find good used first, take the hubs out and have a machine shop use the hubless adapter on it (if you get repos you'll have to take the hub out anyhow). I would also use inner hubs and make the drums a slip on for future ease.


Hopefully the repos have gotten better........

 

There's a Craigslist ad in Torrance that says he has front drums brakes for a '40
There's also someone in San Leandro that has a 53-56 F100 axle and maybe brakes for $25 (use it for bartering)
There's a whole lot in Livermore of '32 part and I see lots of drums (maybe he'll separate).
I think I see your wanted ad also.

Plus there's a few in the ads here and on Fordbarn.

If all else fails there's always the Early Ford store for used.

I know you wanted new repo.........just my .02

 

I have these two with a real old-school repair job Seemed to have worked

 

I've used the drums from Speedway (made in Brazil) and a quick pass on the brake lathe and they fit fine. Since I also balance the drums, I was pleased with the sets I've purchased from them.

 

I sold auto parts for years. The big problem with brake drums was improper storage. The manufacturers all said to ship and store them flat, with not over 3 deep. We would get them on a pallet, from the factory, stacked 6 deep with some on edge. If you lay them flat on a shelf, they take too much room so they get stored on edge, causing a flat spot. We had to turn all of them when we sold them.

 

Local shops won't touch them because they are oversized? I think .060 is the limit on '40 to '48. I had a car and found out it had .080 and it was fine, but I'm not recommending that. Did you call Dennis at The Early V8 Garage? He can guide you in the right direction.

 

I’m wondering if the drums could be built up with the metal spraying technique or would the face get too hot and warp ? Cost of that might be cost prohibitive ?

 

Keep looking around until you find a shop that will turn the drums. Or maybe you can find another hobbiest that has his own drum lathe.
If your drums that are oversized are in otherwise good shape, just get some oversized shoes made. Send your shoe cores out to have them relined, but have them put on thicker material. Then have them arc the shoes to match your exact drum diameter. I had that done and it made a world of difference. I used a place in Minnesota, but there are other companies out there.

 

Dennis Lacey has an entire pallet for sale last I checked?
Edit: looks like it’s just backing plates. Sent you a message about another option

on the brake lathe/ over sized shows notes you’d be surprised how many hot rodders own there own brake lathe. If auto shops are failing you shake the bushes on hot rod guys, and then the old stand by of big truck shops. They still seem to be learned in the ways of old

 

1974 Hot Rod Year Book No 14 says. Harry's Wheel and Brake La Crescenta Ca says you can go . 120- in oversize. On Early Ford Drums. Not me

 

Most shops won't go past the size limit for liability issues. You know how sue happy people are. Just imagine if you get in an accident and someone is killed. Nobody wants to take responsibility, so they all sue the shop who turned the drums oversize.

 

I'm sorry but I'd have to call this bad advice. If the drums are oversize they are not in good condition. Brake drums can be repaired, but not many places can do the job and it is very expensive. There are other options, there are new drums available. I think Speedway Motors may have them in stock. I used a set of (4) Boling Bros. brake drums about a year ago, very high quality, and in my mind worth waiting for.

At any rate, putting oversize brake drums into service in today's world opens up a lot of possible (legal and otherwise) problems for anyone knowingly involved. I won't cut a drum or rotor beyond specs, not even for myself.

 

Gee I think I better throw my old used up hot rod stuff away and buy myself a nice safe Honda. Turning a few hundredths over spec might kill somebody.

 

Watching...I'll be needing a set soon!

 

It appears that Speedway may have them - though they mention them for Bendix style brakes and 2" shoes. Not sure the real difference in the drum itself, but worth looking into. Maybe they need to be "shaved" a bit ( in depth) to make them fit 1 3/4" shoes? You can probably send them back if they don't work out . . .

 

Probably not but a good lawyer could convince a jury that is what caused the accident.

Charlie Stephens

 

It's not whether it's safe or not, it's who gets the blame if something goes wrong. Most companies just won't take the chance. Lawyers always look for the deepest pockets, knowing insurance companies will settle so it's easy money.

 

Boling Bros. are my first choice, the drums I've gotten from them were great. Maybe Third Gen or @Hitchhiker?

 

I thought they had a max of .090......I could be wrong though. Also everyone says that turning rotors/drums isn't worth it for liability and price of new replacements being so cheap....but for some reason that hasn't made the cost of used brake lathes come down. Of course I'm looking for one, but not for $1500-$3000.

Anyways back to the topic at hand, good used is still out there but it's getting more and more costly to buy.

Looks like most the Lincoln brakes drums out there are made by MT Car Products. Sellers are Hot Rod Works, Boiling Bothers, Speedway, CW Moss, Pete and Jakes and more (but the others list them as out of stock).

 

Y'ever tried walking on slick ice, then realize it was a bad idea?
Hopefully,, you may find your knees and hands before your face, ass, or back takes the landing.
Likely not when easy cruising, but during 'rough play' when control is mandatory.
That drum spitting off its friction circumference, is just as uncontrollable

 

I’ve had my “ Lincoln “brakes from Hot Rod Works for more than a year and they fit well. They adjusted up well, but I haven’t driven the truck yet.

 

https://www.jgrelining.com/

 

Just going to say after working in collision repair on and off for a couple decades and dealing with insurance companies I've never heard of them taking wheels off and measuring thicknesses to declare fault in a wreck. In fact we've cars of iaa(insurance auction) that were found to be the victim that had a grand total of one metal on metal brake working on the whole car

 

Hey Dennis, care to share how you balance them?

Thanks.

 

The .060 over dimension comes from the Feds. Newer drums are thinner and won't take a deeper cut. Most people in the industry only go by the Fed requirements and are unaware of the the thickness of old Ford drums. I did brake and front end work for way too many years. Plus, I worked on 39-48 Ford brakes lots of times. I have turned them ,120 over lots of times without any problems. But, that is the absolute largest over siz th drums will tolerate! Most all drums arrive out of round no matter what car they are for. The neanderthals in the warehouses almost always manage to drop at least one. As a matter of course, I would chuck the new drum in a brake lathe and remove at least .010 to get it round again. Rotors because of their design stay round and flat, drums aren't that lucky. Find an old timer that KNOWS early Ford drums and seek his advice. However, even .120 drums are disappearing and repops are what we are left with. Just be glad that they don't import drums from Argentina any more. Some of those would arrive almost square!

 

try Sacramento Vintage Ford

 

In the 50's and early 60, Brake shoes were available in .10, .20, 30, and .040 over sizes so they would work with the large over sizes drums were turned to.

 

I though the same. I think it should work fine.

 

Dennis Carpenter sells repop 40’ Drums.