New brake drum and hub assembly
 

Hey guys....time for some new cast iron drums. Is it worth the extra money to buy the drum and hubs already assembled and swaged rather than buying the components separately. Looking at Snyder's or Mike's ....any input on if either is better over the other...I've always had good service from both...I was wondering if the product was the same.

Re: New brake drum and hub assembly
 

I would also get a quote from Randy Gross (714-292-8668). He sells cast iron drums, hubs, and lugs. He also assembles the drums, hubs, and lugs. He is very knowledgeable, has reasonable prices, and honest. JMO

Re: New brake drum and hub assembly
 

xx2

Re: New brake drum and hub assembly
 

I got my drums from Snyder's with new hubs already installed. Of course it costs more, but I actually got the job done rather than staring at a bench loaded with parts for six months.

Re: New brake drum and hub assembly
 

If you are doing a major brake job, I would recommend you contact Randy Gross. He supplies the drums and shoes, and He can swedge the drums to your hubs, true the drums and arc the shoes to fit the drums. He also rebuilds the backing plates. Nice one stop service.

Randy Gross
(714) 292-8660

http://fordbarn.com/forum/showthread...ighlight=gross
http://fordbarn.com/forum/showthread...ighlight=gross

Re: New brake drum and hub assembly
 

Thanks Mitch and Sick, I'll call him. Thanks for your input as well Jbill.

Re: New brake drum and hub assembly
 

Good move!

Re: New brake drum and hub assembly
 

Thanks,
I'll also call him

Re: New brake drum and hub assembly
 

I also used Randy Gross, he was very helpful, I sent him my used hubs he checked them and did all the work I also got the new linings to match. I am very happy with my brakes.

Re: New brake drum and hub assembly
 

I can't say enough good things about Randy Gross and his services. I only wish there were more like him. A great guy to do business with!:D

Re: New brake drum and hub assembly
 

Don't know anything about Randy but I removed my old hubs out of my drums myself and installed them into new drums instead of buying both new hubs a drums. The process isn't bad and really was worth the money saved for me. Only thing I wish I did was find someone to arc my shoes after or find a machine and buy it myself for that matter!

Re: New brake drum and hub assembly
 

I bought all four cast iron drums from Randy and have had no problems. He offered me more assistance on arcing shoes, etc. Good prices, knowledgeable, friendly and honest.

Re: New brake drum and hub assembly
 

If you have a press large enough to swag the studs, and the ability to true the drums and shoes. Do it yourself and save money.

If you don't then it is cheaper and faster in the long run, and the job will be done better if you have it all done in one place.

Re: New brake drum and hub assembly
 

"If you have a press large enough to swage the studs". Do not overestimate the size or capacity of the press you use. A 20 ton HF press will NOT do the job. It takes 25 tons or more to get the studs tight. At 20 tons they ( the studs) will look tight and to the touch they will feel tight, but when the vibrating and pressure is applied at the wheel they can and will come loose. Then u is got problems. ken

Re: New brake drum and hub assembly
 

There may be a message in the fact the Ford supplied the hub/drums as an assembly. I would leave it to someone set up to do it properly.

Charlie Stephens

Re: New brake drum and hub assembly
 

Darren, my tame machinist tells me he uses just over 35 tons to swage my studs. I buy the drums and studs locally and have Darren swage them.

I then have the drums turned at a local brake shop who know how to turn VW Beetle drums. There is a remarkable similarity with Model A drums.

As for arcing, it is fairly easy to do using a large bench vice and various bits of pipe, steel bars etc. Much easier to do than describe, so I will stop here. But, if the shoes are only a little off a perfect fit, forget arcing. They will wear in after a few miles.

Re: New brake drum and hub assembly
 

I can't remember exactly as it was a while ago now but I want to say it took 32 tons or so to swedge mine...just a point of reference.

Re: New brake drum and hub assembly
 

I had to build my own swaging jig and the 40 ton press after the local brake company tried to swage some drums for me and cracked two of my hubs. Took my broken hubs (not new ones) and went home. A welding/fabricatin shop and a couple of us Model A'ers built the apparatus. I bought the Arcing machine. I don't doenough any more to justify keeping the arcing machine.

BTW I use Randy Gross drums.

Re: New brake drum and hub assembly
 

I have Randy Gross brake drums when his father Mel was doing this. Brakes work great since the mid 1990's. Great work.

Re: New brake drum and hub assembly
 

I use Randy Gross. I just jack the car up, pull off everything from backing plates out, scrape off the heavy dirt and grease pack in four separate boxes and send 'em to Randy. He sends them back completely restored with new cast iron drums. Everything painted ready to put back on the car. No one does it better.