I have a dumb question but am dying to know....what is the benefit of the buick 45 fin aluminum drums? Weight reduction? The look of them? Braking advantages? Conversion options? What makes them so desirable? Disadvantages? I consider myself a Buick guy but have no clue. Should I have these on my 51 special? Enlighten me please!
In the days before disc brakes, the big 12"x2 1/2" Buick brakes were the stock car guys / hot rod guys go to. The big finned drums also shed heat pretty good.
Used on the early Fords they offered much improved braking and on hi-boys they look great and stop much better. HRP
The finned aluminum drums shed heat a lot faster than a plain cast iron drum, much the way finned aluminum heads on a flathead throw off heat faster than the stock cast iron. In the fifties cars were getting hotter in a hurry, in 1947 the most powerful cars were 135 - 150 HP ten years later, 350 - 375 HP put you in the big leagues. Cars were also getting heavier, with automatic transmissions that did not give much engine braking. The result was overstrained braking systems on the heaviest most powerful cars. They could manage one good stop from high speed and maybe a second stop but after that brake fade due to heat could double your braking distance, or on a long down hill grade, your brakes could overheat and fail completely. Buick's answer was to make finned aluminum brake drums for their heaviest most powerful models in an effort to cool the brakes faster. Sports car racers and hot rodders liked the light weight and heat dispersing properties. In 1957 the hot setup was Chrysler Centerplane brakes, the best in the industry, with Buick drums. When Chevrolet made a handful of magnesium bodied racing Corvettes, that is what they used for brakes.
On the subject of Buick drums, anybody know of a place the replaces the brake surface inside the drum?
The true traditional hot rods built fit that period look right with them. Polished up they are pretty. If the build requires drum brakes, the alum. Buick drums are the ticket. The 45 fin look the best.
Whoof, that is brutal. Have you ever tried to do it? I have some cut for wide5 hubs and are scored from trash getting in there when they were used for racing. I guess I'll clean them up best I can and let'em go.
Everyone of you guys is awesome! Where can you ask a question at 9am and have 9 responses by 5:30 pm? I really appreciate the feedback! I guess the next question is is this worth doing on my 51 special? What kind of braking improvement can I expect if I do only the fronts? Rears too? What modifications do I need to make? Where do I get em? When did Buick start making them and on what vehicles? What are they worth?
Started in '57, probably take a lot of mod's to get them then to fit, since they changed the suspension in '57. Wouldn't think you would get much if any noticeable improvement in normal driving. If you are looking for improved braking, a disc brake kit like Scarebird's would be the way to go.
Buick used aluminum drums from 1957 to 1968 on their top models. Frankly disc brakes are better, and cheaper. Today it's just the nostalgia kick and, for a lot less money, you can buy fake finned drums that fit over your disc brakes. That may be an excellent use for your worn out Buick drums, use them to cover up disc brakes. This would mainly apply to a roadster or similar car where the brakes are out in the open, and visible to all.
To answer the original question - for normal town and 2 lane driving and limited superhiway use the stock 51 Buick brakes are fine, if they are in top shape. If you really want better brakes, look for a front disc conversion. On your car aluminum drums would be of limited benefit. Discs are way better. On your car you can't see them anyway.
Let's not get too high on disc brakes. Properly maintained drums have plenty of stopping power. They are just less resistant to fade when overheated or wet. How often does that actually happen? Sent from my Nexus 7 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
The original reason was braking efficiency and weight savings.Today it is as much about looks as anything else.
Think I've got a pair of 45s with good fins, but oversize. Wasn't aware that they could be fixed. Thanks for the info. Wasn't planning on using them, but didn't know if they were worth anything like they are. They do look good, though, but not just hanging on the wall.
I really appreciate the lesson. Helps with not going down the wrong path. Want to use my limited (fun)ds where I get the most bang for the buck. I am vaguely familiar with the Scarebird set up. Not seen it on a 51 Buick. Has anyone done it?
I've seen it on a 41 Roadmonster phaeton, and I adapted aluminum drums onto the stock hubs on my '54 Super. Add Roadmaster brake plates and internals and you get to keep the bigger 2.5 inch shoes. The plates may need a little shimming at the mounts and grinding at the edges to get full shoe contact. Buick didn't change suspension stuff much in those days, so you should be able to do it... You get bigger shoes, and almost do brake fade. It makes a big difference on my 5000 pounds of Buick
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