Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Model A (1928-31)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 12-09-2019, 08:17 PM   #1
TLR
Junior Member
 
TLR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Hamilton MI
Posts: 7
Default Brake drum turning

Just became an "A" owner a few months ago and would like to spend some winter downtime getting the brakes and front end linkages tighten up. Wondering if anyone knows of anyone in the West Michigan area that has experience or capabilities of turning the drums. The left front seems to have a tight spot when spinning the wheel with the car on jack stands and when applying the brakes while driving the car it is not real smooth. Any comments on getting the brakes smoother would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance
TLR is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-09-2019, 08:46 PM   #2
redmodelt
Senior Member
 
redmodelt's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Portland OR
Posts: 6,339
Default Re: Brake drum turning

Comment and suggestion. 1st; YOU AND ANYONE RIDING WITH YOU LIFE DEPENDS ON GOOD BRAKES DO IT RIGHT.

Most drums are worn out. The base diameter is 11" and any wear over .060 is junk. My suggestion is to get Les book and do the job right.

I would suggest getting new cast iron drums installed. You can send the drums/hubs to Mel/Randy and get it done.
714-292-8660 or [email protected]
Les book;

https://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/P.../model-a-books


While you are waiting for you new drums to be done, good time to go over the rest of the brake system and renew/rebuild everything that needs it.
__________________
I know the voices aren't real but damn they have some good ideas!
redmodelt is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 12-09-2019, 10:29 PM   #3
Tom Endy
Senior Member
 
Tom Endy's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Southern California
Posts: 3,122
Default Re: Brake drum turning

Be careful where you take the drums to be turned. Turning the rear drums is a lost art at most brake shops. They can turn the front drums using tapered cones, but when they try to turn the rear drums using the same cone method it does not come out well. You need to find a shop that was able to turn the rear drums on the Volks Wagon Bugs. The Model A rear drums require a tapered shaft made from a Model A rear axle shaft to turn them properly.

Tom Endy
Tom Endy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-09-2019, 10:41 PM   #4
J Franklin
Senior Member
 
J Franklin's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Oregon
Posts: 5,946
Default Re: Brake drum turning

steel drums should not be turned get the cast iron ones.
J Franklin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-10-2019, 10:52 AM   #5
The Master Cylinder
Senior Member
 
The Master Cylinder's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 875
Default Re: Brake drum turning

Quote:
Originally Posted by J Franklin View Post
steel drums should not be turned...
Sez so right in the Service Bulletins.
__________________
The Master Cylinder

Enjoying life at the beach in SoCal...
The Master Cylinder is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-10-2019, 01:38 PM   #6
Tom Endy
Senior Member
 
Tom Endy's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Southern California
Posts: 3,122
Default Re: Brake drum turning

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
A local Model A restoration shop will turn a Model A original steel drum out no further than .040" over. However most by now have been turned way past that and should be discarded. Steel drums even when new do not dissipate heat like a cast iron drum will.

The Ford service bulletin may have been one of Henry's way of increasing parts sales.

My recommendation is to always replace steel drums on a Model A with cast iron drums no matter what size they are found to be.

Randy Gross offers a set of cast iron drums properly swaged onto the hubs at a reasonable price. His drums are .010" under so that when turned to true the new drum to the hub .010" is taken off and the drum is at the factory spec of eleven inches.

Randy Gross is highly recommended by many on this forum. Contact cell number 714-292-8660. Southern California.

Tom Endy

Last edited by Tom Endy; 12-10-2019 at 08:43 PM.
Tom Endy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-10-2019, 07:55 PM   #7
TLR
Junior Member
 
TLR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Hamilton MI
Posts: 7
Default Re: Brake drum turning

Thanks all for the input and the contact information, your advise is much appreciated.

My dad restored a 31 pickup 25 years ago and a 31 blind back sedan 15 years ago. He recently signed the titles over to my brother and me. We have been having a ball with these cars!

Back when dad was working on them there was a person in West Michigan that had a restoration shop and did a lot of work on his projects, but since has retired. At least we have the Ford Barn to get some help!
TLR is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-11-2019, 02:05 PM   #8
Jerry Kzoo
Senior Member
 
Jerry Kzoo's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Kalamazoo, MI
Posts: 173
Default Re: Brake drum turning

There are local MARC clubs in Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and Muskegon. All are good and would definitely help out new members. PM me for more info about the Kalamazoo club.

Jerry
Jerry Kzoo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-11-2019, 04:39 PM   #9
Beemer
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 1
Default Re: Brake drum turning

Just go to Parker brake in Grand Rapids,Mi they do a lot of local Model A,s
Beemer is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:03 AM.