Swedging an original Model A brake drum
 

Can I swedge a brake drum more than once? I'm thinking no.

Re: Swedging an original Model A brake drum
 

Sure. As long as the holes in the drum are not damaged or enlarged where the lug stud can be re-riveted over, you will be fine. I am pretty sure the shank of the lug bolts are supposed to 0.625"-0.628" specs.

Re: Swedging an original Model A brake drum
 

What do you when you say “swedge” ? A brake drum ?

Re: Swedging an original Model A brake drum
 

Swaging (-often mispronounced as swedging) is a tool that deforms an object, -and in this case it is the Wheel Hub Bolt to tighten the drum to the hub. Ford Engineers called for the assembly worker to "Rivet over after assembly." in-which the worker used a Swaging tool for performing the process.

Re: Swedging an original Model A brake drum
 

Well that depends....

The issue at hand is in the process of swaging the drum did you warp it?? If warped how bad?


If it was swaged and you carefully cut out and pressed the stud without warping the hub or drum then yes you are fine.

If you messed up and cause the drum or the hub to warp then you have a problem. If you have a problem then how much and can you safely cut the drum to make it round?

Do you have a press that can do 40 tons? If not then you cant swage them properly.

Hope that makes sense.

Re: Swedging an original Model A brake drum
 

Clem, if you need help, Tom Terko has a press that can do it.

Re: Swedging an original Model A brake drum
 

Thanks. We used Benny's tools.

Re: Swedging an original Model A brake drum
 

A man that used to do babbit and machine work here worked as a machinest during the war.They did a lot of it at the navy yard here.He said his instructors hammered into them that the swage was the process,or the work involved,and the swedge was the product you created by the swaging process.Calling it a squashed wedge didn't earn him any points with his instructor either.He said they were big on correct terminolog.When he was being taught refrigeration you had to say,transfer heat.You did NOT say cool it down or heat it up.

Re: Swedging an original Model A brake drum
 

If the holes are damaged and/or oversize, a set of new holes can be drilled betwix the originals.