How to stop?

[hammersteffi]

Hello to all,
my `30 Fordor Seadan need new brakes. I still have the old original drums and I want tochange to cast Iron drums.
There are a lot suppliers of cast Iron drums in the market with very diferent quality levels and prices.
I am intersted in the best quality drums I can get today. Who ist the best suppllier?
best regards
Thomas

[H. L. Chauvin]

Depends on what brand of beer you like -- some people have different taste.

All four of mine work great.

I bought mine from Mr. Mel Gros who has been criticized because his drums came from China; but unless one wants to join a nudist camp, in a few years all clothes will be made in China along with everything else. LOL

[1930artdeco]

Welcome Thomas. You will love the cast iron drums, they stop so much better than the old steel ones. I got my bonded shoes from Mel Gross's son and they stop me just great. Make sure you get rid of ALL of the slop in the brake system though.

Mike

[H. L. Chauvin]

If you would like to get lots of "experienced" advice & suggestions, please call Mr. Mel Gros's son.

This is what they do every day of the week.

He can advise how to mail old hubs with drums still installed, advantages of "their" bonded linings, & the whole works.

Bonded brake linings manufacturing, like tires, can be a very lucrative scam -- they can be made to last well over 100,000 miles or to fail in less than 4,000 miles -- depends on who makes them.

Appears shopping always helps.

[Mitch//pa]

i would go with mel's drums and riveted woven lining

[H. L. Chauvin]

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Hi Mitch,

FWIW:

I remember calling Plasimeter about 18 years ago when different linings for U. S. made cast iron drums were being discussed on the other Model A AHOOGA Forum.

The guys at Plasimeter said they tried both bonded & woven linings & with just crude on-the-street-testing, & they found that woven linings worked a little bit better than bonded linings for stopping.

Then when I mentioned this to Mr. Mel Gros about 6 years ago, he said that too many of his customers complained that the woven linings would "squeal"; so he always recommended his bonded linings which would even last much longer than woven & never squeal.

I've found that wood boats, fiberglass boats, non-ferrous metal boats, & other boats can be all be used to successfully catch lots of fish if one is an experienced fisherman; appears life can be more peaceful to accept & respect neighbor fishermen as they are ........... rather than to try to change their minds on what boat to use.

Hope this helps Mr. Hammer with his brake decision.

[Mitch//pa]

well i'll say it again: riveted linings disipate heat better than bonded linings and are not as prone to cob webbing (heat cracks) and detatchment

[hardtimes]

Hey Thomas,
Welcome to the barn !!
Well, at least you got a 'nugget' of info, that I agree with, in amongst the 'world market' gorblygoop !

Randy Gross is the son of Mel Gross (RIP) and is carrying on the great Gross line of equipment for us Model A guys. Randy is a member here and may PM you or you can contact him similarly. He sells brake equipment and steering units. Nice people and will give you, IMO, honest answers to your questions.

[Tom Wesenberg]

I agree with Mitch and will only use riveted linings.
The bonded linings on my Corvair fell off after the car sat for one year.

[H. L. Chauvin]

Just one experience why bonded brakes are not all alike.

Anybody remember the "Big Brake Co." that emerged in about 1971.

Complete brake job for $69.99 with a life-of-the-car warranty on only the "Big Brake" linings; but ........ in the warranty fine print, the warranty was not covering the $60.00 "Big brake" labor to replace the linings.

I tried them & after about 2,000 miles I could hear iron to iron.

I went back to "Big Brake" & listened to the Manager sheepishly explaining to the big shouting & mad guy ahead of me that the management knew their "Big Brake" linings were cheap & not lasting; however, the manager was most willing to replace the linings for free using new NAPA brake bands.

The manager then asked me if I needed help & when I walked forward, I noticed the guy in front of me had a .38 caliber Police Special Smith & Wesson pistol pointed at the manager.

I told the manager I was with the guy with the pistol & I needed NAPA brake bands too -- the manager said OK -- the guy with the pistol just looked at me & said nothing.

"Big Brake" Shops did not last long -- I never went back.

Maybe somebody can explain the moral of this wonderful experience over 40 years ago!

[H. L. Chauvin]

Forgot to add the NAPA bonded brake linings lasted over 100,000 miles.

Some people can do good work when they are under pressure.