hey all yeah i know cheap- ya get what you pay for but anyway im looking for aplace to buy acheap micrometer to measure the inside diameter on some brake drums thats all i plan on useing it for so it dont have to be the super duper top of the line version just something to let me measure all the drums i have laying around so i know which are good "useable" and which can put a few dollars in my pocket at the recycler any body know where to get one? and would anyone have a book that lists the deminsions(all makes) that theyd like to sell
i have a ammco 8500 brake drum micrometer that i use for that new ones are expensive , but good used ones are all over that auction site for $25-$75
look into a set of used calipers instead..not as accurate as inside mics, but for what you're using it for should be plenty good enough. The good thing is you won't be spending your money on a one use tool.
Find one like 36-3window showed, that's the standard brake drum measuring tool that is used in the majority of brake shops all over the country if not the world. It will not only show the diameter of the drum but shows how much wear or how much the drum has been turned. They aren't "real" cheap as there is one with a buy it now on Ebay for 69 bucks but they are accurate and quick to use. Ebay 74 with free shipping 360591535128 One will pay for it's self real quick if you are selling drums as you can make sure that they are within specs and show the buyer that they are within specs.
Harbor Fright has this guy for $9.00 bucks. I've used it a lot for rough and tumble measurements. It will measure up to 24". Perfect for those one-time uses.
If you have drums that are all the same size (e.g., early ford 12 inch) have someone cut you a rod to use as a no-go gauge (12.060). Be sure to round the ends slightly to get the correct fit. Sometimes you can get a rough estimate with a tape measure. Charlie Stephens
Get a brake caliper, you can actually get them in plastic. You don't need a mic for break drums and even if you don't get a "brake" caliper a standard caliper will do for what you want to do.
Just bring them in to a brake grinding shop and they will tell you if they can be ground or not. Usually no charge.
This is true...I worked at NAPA for 4 years and our brake caliper was plastic. I would just look on e-gay you can buy a nice used starrett or mitutoyo calipers with an inside edge pretty cheap. As for the drum diameter I would take a list of the drums you have and take them to a good NAPA and they should have a book you can dig through to get the dimensions. As for the calipers I'm sure you would like to buy some but I've got a few sets I've picked up at auction over the years I'm not too far north if you would like to borrow em I might even be willing to part with a set pretty cheap. Just shoot me a PM and let me know apx. how many inches in daimeter the drums are.
Car Craft did an article in the new rag comparing Harbor Freight torque wrenches to the high dollar ones and they did suprisingly well and were just as accurate. They even tested some electronic gadget that they sell that goes on a regular 1/2" ratchet and it was dead nuts on! It never was off by more than a fraction of a lb. Funny stuff!
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