What kind of brake drums are these

[CT AV8]

Originally Posted by Keith True

Paul,why do you think they are 35 backing plates? They look like 11 inch A to me.The 32 up brakes are completely different.The actuating lever sticks up on the A,it hangs down on the later ones.The kingpin head sticks ahead of the kingpin on the A,it sticks out behind it on the 32 and up.I collected a bunch of later 12 inch brake stuff years ago,thinking I was going to put some nice 12 inch cast brakes on my A.Not an easy conversion.I still have a bunch of 12 inch brake drums hanging around from that pipe dream.

Keith,
It's not a pipe dream at all. I installed '35 front brakes (drums and b.p's) on our '30 AV8 and it's a breeze. The easiest work I've done on the car. You need the spacers used to mount juice brakes on '28-'35 spindles and it's a complete bolt on. The rears are more problematic and I haven't gotten to that yet. At front you keep the Model A kingpins and actuators but need the '35 brake operating pins (cupped vs ball on bottom end). I've been told '35 rears can work if inverted and reversed d/s to p/s. BCChopit has done it with '32-'34 rears on his Model A so I know that can be done and I thank him for showing me how to do it. '35's have 1.75" shoes vs 1.5" so you get more braking. It's amazing how much better it stops even with just the 12" cast iron fronts. Last pic shows required spacer on '32 spindles.

[darrylkmc]

The great thing about the original Model A cast iron front drums is that they are one piece, no hub and drum assembly. I believe that you still have to swage the studs in place.

Darryl in Fairbanks

[Keith True]

When I thought I might want to try this in the 70's this kind of info was not readily available to me.Everywhere I turned I was told to just convert to hydraulics and be done with it.I kind of thought I could figure out something for the front,but the rears were another story.I found at that point that I could just repair the A brakes and be done with it.After hearing the old timers yap about how poor the Model A brakes were since I was little,it was kind of an awakening to find that most of those guys were too lazy and too cheap to just fix them.Even back then I knew one thing,I wasn't going to hydraulics.I do like cast drums though.I always grab them when I find them.I have four A's with cast drums on three.I have plenty of 12 inch drums,but I think I gave all the backing plates and hardware to an early V8 guy.Seems to me the parking brake was puzzling me when I looked into doing it.

[Bruce,Upstate NY]

I have three sets of fronts on cars. They are great in hilly country They can be cut to .060 if necessary and over sized .060 linings can be put be used. They were made for the rear also but I've not seen any. I think the don't have the 'windows" in them.

[darrylkmc]

CT AV8,

I've not seen any that have the additional reinforcement rings that you show.
I would be interested to know the casting numbers for your drums, I will post an example. The casting number should be opposite the "O" symbol.

My casting numbers end with a "C", I believe I have some "D" castings also, none of them have the additional ridges that are shown in your photos.

Darryl in Fairbanks

[darrylkmc]

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Originally Posted by Bruce,Upstate NY

........... They were made for the rear also but I've not seen any. I think the don't have the 'windows" in them.

Bruce,Upstate NY,

This is what the original Cast Iron Rear Drake Drum looks like for the late '31.

Darryl in Fairbanks

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

On Vermin, my '29 Coupe, "mystery" car, I have mirror, like, steel drums that measure 11.010" & woven linings that has, maybe, 40 miles on them! The outside of the drums are perfectly smooth & looks like NEW!
Bill W.
Bill W.

[CT AV8]

Originally Posted by Keith True

When I thought I might want to try this in the 70's this kind of info was not readily available to me.Everywhere I turned I was told to just convert to hydraulics and be done with it.I kind of thought I could figure out something for the front,but the rears were another story......I have plenty of 12 inch drums,but I think I gave all the backing plates and hardware to an early V8 guy.Seems to me the parking brake was puzzling me when I looked into doing it.

You need the '35 backing plates and operating pins to do this but for everything else you use Model A. You are correct about the parking brake issue. '35's did not have additional shoe and used the service brakes for parking also. There is an elongated opening on the clevis that allows the brakes to engage without activating the brake lights. On a Model A w/ '35 brakes you could have the hand brake activate the brake cross shaft and have a switch to disconnect brake light or a main disconnect for everything. I always disconnect battery whenever I shut off anyway.

[CT AV8]

Originally Posted by darrylkmc

CT AV8,

I've not seen any that have the additional reinforcement rings that you show.
I would be interested to know the casting numbers for your drums, I will post an example. The casting number should be opposite the "O" symbol.

My casting numbers end with a "C", I believe I have some "D" castings also, none of them have the additional ridges that are shown in your photos.

Darryl in Fairbanks

Daryl-
These are pics of the front. I cannot really read the numbers and they're mounted on the car, so I can't check them. Just to be clear, these are '35 drums, not '32-34. The additional ridges are only on '35-'36 but '35s are unique due to change to wide five wheels in '36.
The next pics are the '35 rear. It has a casting number C275 and that's all. Fronts have some additional numbers.

[Ken Ehrenhofer]

I believe that with the Model A cast iron drums with the openings there was a formed sheet metal cover (circular) that went over the holes to keep out water and dirt.
Ken

[darrylkmc]

Originally Posted by Ken Ehrenhofer

I believe that with the Model A cast iron drums with the openings there was a formed sheet metal cover (circular) that went over the holes to keep out water and dirt.
Ken

Ken,

I have never heard of any covers. The rim mounted to the hub/drum assembly completely covers the openings of the cast iron drum. Dust and water can still enter through the backing plate area, as with any other brake system.

Darryl in Fairbanks

[Pmsqrd]

TDO,

You might want to check the way the pins are mounted thru the bottom rollers on the shoes. The round head is mounted to the inside to allow it to slide on the roller track. The cotter pin side should face outboard on both the top and bottom pins.

[117harv]

I find the late cast drums from time to time on my parts hunting trips, I have sold some on here to Ford Barners. Here is a pic of an early late drum with push in cap, and a couple of a late late with screw in cap. Also as mentioned earlier, you can see they are thick, and can be turned quite abit.

[darrylkmc]

117harv,

Cool, thanks for the information, all of mine are for the threaded cap, I wasn't aware of the earlier straight push in style cap design.

Darryl in Fairbanks

[larrys40]

Ken,

I am a huge fan of the '31 spoked brake drums ( fronts) rears are solid cast iron (no holes). I have obtained used/sold a number of these over the years... and have never seen any cover. If you have any documentation or anything I would love to see that. I think by nature of the wheel mounting to the flat on the hub and the outer rim of the drum the spokes become sealed by the wheel. I have been running them on my '30 tudor and they always keep clean. I'd like to learn more about their introduction and use if you have further info.
Many thanks,
Larry Shepard

[TDO]

Originally Posted by 117harv

I find the late cast drums from time to time on my parts hunting trips, I have sold some on here to Ford Barners. Here is a pic of an early late drum with push in cap, and a couple of a late late with screw in cap. Also as mentioned earlier, you can see they are thick, and can be turned quite abit.

where do buy the screw in caps

[117harv]

32 and up 12" drums use the same caps, I think someone repros them but not sure. Most of the origonal ones I find have had a hard life, cracked, bent and marred up from pipe wrenches. I do find nice ones from time to time.

[CT AV8]

Originally Posted by TDO

where do buy the screw in caps

Joblot Automotive sells them
'28-'34 Front Wheel Grease Cap p/n B-1139, $ 3.25
Speak to Richard.

[BCCHOPIT]

Just want to put this out there

I made up some spacers for running the
35-36 brakes on a A spindle

32-34 are a bolt on

I am not on the barn much but if you have questions
You can find me on my WAC page one FB

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.p...02766899798304

[C26Pinelake]

Originally Posted by jkeesey

Rocky Mountains are for Ts ol' man.

I think the ol man knows more than Mr.Keesey ! Wayne.