Effectiveness of Brake bands

Domino

Domino

Senior Member
An earlier post asked how hot these must be to install. Perhaps of more importance is how effective are they? Also what is the advantage to using them versus drum replacement? I would very much like to hear from those who have installed them. Thanks.
 
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The bands allow for rigidity and heat dissipation which keeps the drums from expanding as much which helps reduce fade. It was kinda common back in the days of steel drums. I've read some old Ford literature that stated not to turn the steel drums at all. But. most have been turned and turning is required when the bands are installed.
The conversion to cast drums is probably a good/better one.
 
Personally I think it is a cost issue first and efficiency second. I feel the new drums are the best however not everyone is willing to afford them. For new drums there is something that many do not consider in that often times hubs are non-serviceable meaning someone has welded in lug studs or performed "McGuyvering" to the races that render them unusable for new drum installation. At that time, the bands are a good option. Also, during new drum installation, the hub needs to be trued and lugs need to be swaged. For someone who does not have that capability, the bands are a good option.
 
I've installed quite a few of them.I worked for a man that installed hundreds of them starting during the war.What he showed me to do was to make sure the outside of the drum was clean,no rust,paint,slag,smooth,smooth,smooth.Same on the band.If there was a weld seam on the inside of the band,I had to file it down.They were already ground down,but not enough to make him happy.We didn't have gas grilles then,but he did have an old forge that he would fire up if he had enough drums to do.He would use a torch if he had to,but he preferred not to.If the torch was used he would do it,not me.He wanted an even heat around the band.When they were red I would drop them on the drum,when they bottomed out they would clink and instantly cool enough to shrink.Done that way if the drums were OK to start with they seldom needed truing.I like the bands.I really like cast drums,but to go through all the work involved the bands work fine if you have serviceable drums.His bands came in wooden barrels,and the instruction paper in the barrel says not to turn the A drum under .110 thick.Little different than some say today.
 
I put them on my tudor and my station wagon when I was restoring them back in the 70s. They're still on them and working fine but if I was restoring those cars today, I'd use the new cast iron drums.
 
On the other thread about the brake bands. I stated about how "incorrectly" I installed a couple of bands.:eek: I had bought the bands
many years ago when they were only 20 bucks a piece new. Always looking for a bargin.:rolleyes: After my feeable attempt went awry, I'm glad I said 'poop' I'm going cast iron! With new linings & arched shoes to match.
Cost was a lot higher, but it is the best way to go.:)

Bob-A:D
 
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