Cast Iron brakes

tinman7

tinman7

Member
How can I tell the difference between steel and CI break hubs. I have a model A and have nothing to compare it with. Hope its not too much of a dumb question.
 
Here is a photo of a steel drum and a cast iron drum, with a red circle over the difference. The steel drum has a rolled edge and the cast iron drum has a solid edge.
 

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And there is a significant weight difference. Go to a mail order, like Raybestos, or one of the suppliers we normally deal with. Lots of them have cut-sheets, or weights for shipping.
 
i have a cut away sample showing both the stamped steel and the cast. but I cannot seem to figure out how to post a picture from my computer.
 
jak said:
i have a cut away sample showing both the stamped steel and the cast. but I cannot seem to figure out how to post a picture from my computer.
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I figured it out

cast iron is on top the stamped steel is on the bottom.
 

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Jeff/Illinois said:
Just curious, does anyone sell steel brake drums?

BigGameJames welcome:)
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Not that I am aware of, even if they did I do not think there would be much interest as the cast iron drums improve braking due the improved heat dissipation you get from the cast iron brake drums.
 
A word about cast iron drums. This weekend our local chapter had a "test=n-tune" where we all do minor fixes to our cars to ready them for the touring season. A member was there with a A he bought. He drove it over never using his O/D because no one ever taught him. I took him for a spin in mine to teach him, and then on the way back I had him drive. He almost "put me through the windshield" (not really, but you know what I mean), and said "wow you really got good brakes". Anyone still think cast iron drums with equalizing wedges don't count?
 
I've got the cast iron drums, still haven't put equalizing wedges in. (I have them still in the box on the shelf).
 
160B said:
Not that I am aware of, even if they did I do not think there would be much interest as the cast iron drums improve braking due the improved heat dissipation you get from the cast iron brake drums.
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Good points as you and Gene noted.

I can see where they work better and Ford thought they must have been a good idea to bring them out in '31 from the factory. The rolled ends look more authentic to me than the flat part of a cast drum, but that's just me:) Almost no one else would ever notice that!
 
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