Rear drum brakes

[patrick]

I need to re-do my rear brakes. There are 10-inch drums on it now. Any issue with simply buying the 11-inch drums? I know, it probably INCREASES my unsprung weight, but I want the bigger brakes since I already put the larger 11.75" discs up front.

Also, any advice on replacing the wheel cylinders? They sell a kit which replaces just the rubber ends and spring for like $5 or the whole cylinder for about $10. Also, how do I prevent all my brake fluid from leaking out while swapping? Never done this before.

[patrick]

Nevermind:

http://www.allpar.com/fix/brake-drums.html

[patrick]

Just read that I would have to change the backing plate; nevermind, I'm gonna stay at 10" rear drums.

But I'm confused again. Is it possible to put 11-inch shoes on 10-inch drums? I don't have a tape-measuring device since my girlfriend left me and took everything, but using a piece of 8x11 paper, the shoes are right on the money with the 11" length. The drums are non-fluted and stamped 10.0. Interesting... But confusing...

[landon1]

i have 10" rear drums as well - actually they may be 10s on the front, too....anywho, no if you have 10" brakes, you can't use 11" shoes. the width also makes a difference...i hunted at 3 or 4 different parts stores to find shoes for my 78 Dodge Pickup...everything they wanted to sell me wouldn't work...well, it had HD brakes that were much wider.

brakes aren't too bad to do, but it's really nice to have someone around that's done them before. basically, it's just taking them apart and putting them back in the same fashion with new parts - i'd recommend the new wheel cylinders - never rebuilt one, but you can't go wrong with new. also, might as well get the hardware kit and have new springs, adjusters, pins, and parking brake cable. hopefully, you don't need new drums - if they're not smooth, get them turned, or you'll end up with one like i had, where i had to brake the drum to get it off, as the last bonehead used grooved drums and the shoes wore into the grooves, so the drum wouldn't come off - they kind of fused together.

if you can, grab a manual if you don't have one - and don't skimp on a brake tool, i bought the $5 oreilly brand and it's crap.

[fourforty6pac]

You can't go wrong with new parts. A spring and small parts kit is always a good idea (not too expensive). If your not very experienced with drum brakes do one side at a time so have something for reference. Switching to 11 in. brakes isn't that big of a deal and is a worth while swap. Besides that will give you a chance to change bearings and the fluid in the differential.

[patrick]

I agree with the 11-inch swap and if I had the backing plates readily available, I would have, but I don't feel like scouring a junkyard and Year One wants a pretty hefty sum. Besides, I already had brand new shoes that I acquired a while back as well as the brake kit.

Anyway (answering my own question), it's just coincidence: when you buy 10-inch shoes, they just so happen to measure 11 inches long (the actual measurement refers to the diameter of the drum, of course). This threw me off until I thought about it.

Bought my parts from AutoZone even thought I hate that store just because they had the wheel cylinders in stock (awesome 3-month warranty too ). Nobody had the rotors in stock and although Kragen (my favorite parts store) had them listed for $18.99, I decided to just order them at AutoZone while I was there ($30 each) and trusting the Duralast name since my battery is a Duralast Gold and seems to be awesome. When the drums arrived two days later, turns out they were manufactured in China: Ugh! Part of me thinks, How can you go wrong with cast iron? But this IS China after all...

I wonder if the Bendix ones from Kragen are also manufactured in China?

Also there was no core charge. Should I just toss my old drums since they're so cheaply and readily available, or should I keep them just in case they can be turned (figured it wasn't the hassle since everyone has them for order) and since there may be quality issues with "Made in China"?

[scotts74birds]

Lets see, they were able to mine the ore, smelt it, cast it, machine it, box it, ship it from China, truck it across the states, put a retailers mark-up on it and still sell them for $14-30? Thats scary cheap when talking about something your life depends on. Makes you miss the good ole days of quality Mexican and Japanese parts!

[patrick]

Haha, that's because the child that made it got paid with a bag of rice... Wow oh wow...

Anyway, yeah, almost forgot I used to refer to parts from Japan as "jap crap", but nowadays, I would welcome those parts (probably even over American)! I've never had good luck with anything made in China.

Oh, by the way... "I'm not racist, I got a black President." -- Dean Cook

[patrick]

I guess I'm gonna keep my brakes just in case these ones give problems and just have them turned. Or maybe I'll try the Bendix ones.

[MoparMarq]

You've probably already done the work, but if not, one tip which you probably have heard:

Do the brakes one side at a time, so that you have a fully assembled drum brake setup to use as a reference when you reassemble the side with the new parts.

Even with the FSM, it's a job done so infrequently that it's easy to forget how things go back together...

[Elvad]

What are the 11.75 front brakes you installed? Aftermarket or what?

[Smellslike1974]

I guess I'm gonna keep my brakes just in case these ones give problems and just have them turned. Or maybe I'll try the Bendix ones.

They work good on my bicycles

[Smellslike1974]

Do different size drums lock easier than others?Like would a bigger drum brake lock less than a smaller one?