Brake drum turning
 

Just became an "A" owner a few months ago and would like to spend some winter downtime getting the brakes and front end linkages tighten up. Wondering if anyone knows of anyone in the West Michigan area that has experience or capabilities of turning the drums. The left front seems to have a tight spot when spinning the wheel with the car on jack stands and when applying the brakes while driving the car it is not real smooth. Any comments on getting the brakes smoother would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Re: Brake drum turning
 

Comment and suggestion. 1st; YOU AND ANYONE RIDING WITH YOU LIFE DEPENDS ON GOOD BRAKES DO IT RIGHT.

Most drums are worn out. The base diameter is 11" and any wear over .060 is junk. My suggestion is to get Les book and do the job right.

I would suggest getting new cast iron drums installed. You can send the drums/hubs to Mel/Randy and get it done.
714-292-8660 or [email protected]
Les book;

https://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/P.../model-a-books


While you are waiting for you new drums to be done, good time to go over the rest of the brake system and renew/rebuild everything that needs it.

Re: Brake drum turning
 

Be careful where you take the drums to be turned. Turning the rear drums is a lost art at most brake shops. They can turn the front drums using tapered cones, but when they try to turn the rear drums using the same cone method it does not come out well. You need to find a shop that was able to turn the rear drums on the Volks Wagon Bugs. The Model A rear drums require a tapered shaft made from a Model A rear axle shaft to turn them properly.

Tom Endy

Re: Brake drum turning
 

steel drums should not be turned get the cast iron ones.

Re: Brake drum turning
 

Sez so right in the Service Bulletins.

Re: Brake drum turning
 

A local Model A restoration shop will turn a Model A original steel drum out no further than .040" over. However most by now have been turned way past that and should be discarded. Steel drums even when new do not dissipate heat like a cast iron drum will.

The Ford service bulletin may have been one of Henry's way of increasing parts sales.

My recommendation is to always replace steel drums on a Model A with cast iron drums no matter what size they are found to be.

Randy Gross offers a set of cast iron drums properly swaged onto the hubs at a reasonable price. His drums are .010" under so that when turned to true the new drum to the hub .010" is taken off and the drum is at the factory spec of eleven inches.

Randy Gross is highly recommended by many on this forum. Contact cell number 714-292-8660. Southern California.

Tom Endy

Re: Brake drum turning
 

Thanks all for the input and the contact information, your advise is much appreciated.

My dad restored a 31 pickup 25 years ago and a 31 blind back sedan 15 years ago. He recently signed the titles over to my brother and me. We have been having a ball with these cars!

Back when dad was working on them there was a person in West Michigan that had a restoration shop and did a lot of work on his projects, but since has retired. At least we have the Ford Barn to get some help!

Re: Brake drum turning
 

There are local MARC clubs in Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and Muskegon. All are good and would definitely help out new members. PM me for more info about the Kalamazoo club.

Jerry

Re: Brake drum turning
 

Just go to Parker brake in Grand Rapids,Mi they do a lot of local Model A,s