Sandblasting inner brake drum?

I had a brake drum sandblasted for my 1960 Ford F100 and the guy blasted inside my drum where the brake shoes rub to stop, Can I still use it or is this going to cause problems?

 

I'd get it turned at the local brake shop.

 

good way to get it out of round...

 

Well that ruined my day

 

I'd take it and have it mic'ed at a brake shop....they can turn it if not too far gone

 

Having it turned should true it up, if it is out of round at all. The machinist can tell.

 

PS,I won't tell you about my expensive mistake day that's not over yet!!!

 

You can use it and it won't cause problems. I have sandblasted brake drums before and used them. If it was not rutted and out of round before it won't be now. You could give it a rub with 120 sandpaper and blow it off with air if you like.

 

Hell.....why not? Haha

 

So it will eventually end up smoothing out?

 

Please tell me how sandblasting is going to make a brake drum out of round.
If that were so, then blasting the outside of the drum would warp it. If it was straight to begin with, it will be straight after. as far as roughness on the braking surface, about ten stops later it will be as smooth as new.

 

yes

 

no ---i was thinking that rust build up on one area could cause over application of blast media and i was ***uming industrial grade equipment---drums are not that hard to get out of round or else there would not be a brake lathe on every corner...

 

if you can sand blast sheet metal and not bend it how will you get a drum out of round? if your brakes were fine before they are the same now.

 

I blast them all the time before powdering. Odds of hurting them are slim to none. As said lightly hand sand or lightly turn and good to go.

 

I agree, it will be fine. The shoe contact will knock down any surface roughness in a short time. Actually you're better off having them a bit too rough as opposed to too smooth.

Bob

 

It's not an ideal finish, but if the drum is round and true, and the blasted finish isn't too rough, you can likely get by with using it as is.

 

yep, it shouldn't be a problem if the surface is smooth on them, As Rusty said, you could scuff them with some sandpaper but I'm not even sure that is necessary.

Sandblasting them will NOT get them out of round, that is total BS. If they are out of round after they are sandblasted they were out of round before they were sandblasted. They are cast iron not tin.

I'd have them checked as a matter of course before I put them back on and have them turned if they need it.

 

They arent super smooth like before nor are they like 80 grit paper either.

 

exactly! I blast them all the time!
Thats a ****load of crazy comments posted, your not reshaping metal!
I just wish if people had no knowledge of certain things, then dont post in those threads.
This happens to be something I deal with all the time, the worst thing you are going to do to the drum, is help it... by removing built up glazing.

 

As to your drum, I'd have then check them and do a light surfacing if they are in spec

As to my day, I searched to find what brakes/calipers were used on my 32,and came up with 72 Chevelle.....I didn't notice til after I turned the cores in and painted the new ones an installed them that the hoses enter at a different angle than my old ones.

72 Camaro have the angle I need to clear my dropped axle.

So another set of calipers + core charges unless I use my new painted/modified as cores!!!!

 

Well that sums it all up. Thanks a bunch guys

 

Damn that's horrible

 

Oh well, could be worse....I could have just threw it together and not noticed til I turned sharp and damaged the hoses and lost my brakes!!!

$60 is really cheap stupid tax in the scheme of things!!

 

After 24 posts no one has hit the real problem. The sand will penetrate slightly the surface and remain there. The result will eat cutting tools when the drums are turned. Be sure to get a fixed price and hope the shop hasn't encountered sand blasted drums before. It will be a learning experience for them. Don't worry about the sandblasting warping the drums.

Charlie Stephens

 

Wipe the inside of the drum with lacquer thinner or brake clean then dry them and run them.
I ran a brake lathe in the Old Mom & Pop Type Auto Parts Store. Once a drum is turned it looks like the minute grooves on an old vinyl record. It is not shiny, shiny !!!
The brake shoes will wear in and be okay.
If you think it is warped, it was warped before the Sandblast Job.......... Jeff

 

interesting you guys just give your untried negative opinions and posser theory on subjects you have no knowlege of??

this will get you go'n! I sand blast my brake drums AND BAKE THEM IN AN OVEN TO 400 deg. and powder coat them!!! and then i drive on the same streets as your children LOL!!

 

Interesting how how the sand can be penetrate the cast iron and dull a cutter when they were made in a sand casting and probably sandblasted or tumbled when new.

Mount them backwards and spin them with the engine while sanding them slightly to smooth out the sand blasting finish. Flip them back around mount the tires and go!

Joe

 

Sandblasting certainly is not going to warp a cast iron brake drums surface,,it really isn't a big deal.

They only negative I can think of is the brake shoes may wear slightly quicker due to both the surface of the drum and shoe having a rough texture.

If they were mine I would have them turned just to get them smooth again. HRP

 

I've been doing it for 30 years. No problems yet.