Brake drum question

cpldale

cpldale

Senior Member
I bought what I was told were 46-48 front and rear brake drums with hubs. The drums were out of spec so I used a 5/8 hole saw to remove the the studs and separate the drums from the hubs. So far, so good. I went to order replacement drums and realized the center hole in the replacement drum is 3 1/4". The center hole in the old drums is 4". Not sure what I have. Any thoughts?
 
On earlier hubs and drums the drum fits over the hub. On later assemblies the drum fits on the inside of the hub. The drums are different. I think the early ones have the smaller ones and the later ones have the larger hole.
 
cpldale said:
I bought what I was told were 46-48 front and rear brake drums with hubs. The drums were out of spec so I used a 5/8 hole saw to remove the the studs and separate the drums from the hubs. So far, so good. I went to order replacement drums and realized the center hole in the replacement drum is 3 1/4". The center hole in the old drums is 4". Not sure what I have. Any thoughts?
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There is NO workable replacement for the late style ('42 - '48) brake drums which fit INSIDE the hub. Only reasonable replacement consideration is Boling Bros. early drum mounted on an early hub, which is dimensionally viable to replace the later version.

Coop


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An option, although maybe a little late in your case, is to have the drums relined and brought back within specification. J&G Relining in Mc Henry, IL. are the guys for this kind of thing.
 
Mart said:
Ecklers have the later drums but holy --- they are expensive.
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Don't get me started about Ecklers. My peev with them goes back to the early 1990s with Corvettes. They're in it for the money, and good at that, for sure!! No improvement since that time. Example - the "Mac's" fiasco.

Coop


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Mart said:
Ecklers have the later drums but holy --- they are expensive.
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Good to know anyways that they are at least available now. Maybe won't be long before others are selling them and maybe at a lesser price.

Anybody know who they're made by? Anybody tried them?

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Just today discovered that Bert's in Denver also has them listed for a much lower price ($150) than the others above:

A-2520-B BRAKE DRUM CAST IRON USA MADE 1942-1948 FORDS

The picture they show with these is the same generic one as shown for the 40-41's they show a different part number for. They're not open until Tuesday now when I'll try to confirm that these have the correct 4" center opening.

https://modelastore.com/hydraulic-brake-parts?product_id=18538

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Randy in ca said:
Just today discovered that Bert's in Denver also has them listed for a much lower price ($150) than the others above:

A-2520-B BRAKE DRUM CAST IRON USA MADE 1942-1948 FORDS

The picture they show with these is the same generic one as shown for the 40-41's they show a different part number for. They're not open until Tuesday now when I'll try to confirm that these have the correct 4" center opening.

https://modelastore.com/hydraulic-brake-parts?product_id=18538

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Hurray for Bert's! It is disgusting the number of folks that don't mind hiking the price of a simple part by $100 or more beyond what is necessary to cover costs and make a small profit ..... A sorry lot!

Coop


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Got an email back from Steve at Bert's today:

"Yes, these 42-48 drums have 4" hole for use with hub mounted on the outside of the drum, unlike earlier ones mounted behind the drum".
Steve
 
I will guess that the studs hold the drum on the hub as originally done with the drum behind style. I have one car with the early 40 style drum over the hub that I can run the drum loose as like a modern car does with no trouble
 
Bert's also lists splined studs to use with the 4" center hole drum. Not mentioned whether the stud holes need to be reamed a little larger or if they're correct as is. Alternately one can use the original style of studs which would need swaging to hold them in place.

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