Best/ Cheapest place to buy brake drums?

[Blue71]

We'll got the rear drums off with a little strugle, but the front ones were stuck after setting for years. I tried everything from a hammer to beat them to a torch and nothing doing. So I took the next approach..see pics below. I need to know where the best and cheapest place is to replace the front drums on this '68? Advance, Autozone, NAPA are all like 50.00 each to 100.00 bucks each. Is there any place cheaper??? Let me know.

Thanks Much,

Blue71

 

[Flash69]

What size are they Andy. I have a set. They are on the 74.

 

[MnkyBiz]

Andy,

I also have all the drum brake components off of my 73! I just did the 4 wheel disc conversion! You pay shipping & packaging, you get it all! Me, I just want the garage space!!!!!

Bill (also known as the Primate with Opposable thumbs).....(I don't know why that cracks me up so bad)!!!

 

[Paperboy]

When I bought mine a little while back, Carquest had the best price. Around $40.00 each.

 

[NCSUWoj]

Now this may be a silly question, but why not just pull the hub out and the spindle nuts, then do what you need to with the drum? I have just always thought that the drum and hub was kind of like an assembly, and when i took them out, i would check/repack/replace the wheel bearings as needed.

 

[72_EB]

Yep. Front drums and hubs are an assembly and come off together. %)

Yeah, cheapest place would be to find someone who has just done disk conversion and get them for shipping. I might be that person too! Blue let me know if you can't find any local, I might have some fronts at least for ya.

ValueMaxx are the cheapest brand I've found new.

 

[Blue71]

Thanks all you guys for the help and offers. Thanks 72 and Thanks Mnkky..... Sent you a P.M. Thanks Flash I'll let ya know. Am i understaning this correctly......The hub and drums are one assembly??? Then they are different than a D44 where the hub slides off over the hub like on my '74? Fill me in, I have a few more questions if so.

Thanks Much,

Blue71

 

[Flash69]

My 69 came off seperately. It is a d30. I dont know about the 74 they are still on it.

 

[72_EB]

Hub axle studs were indeed pressed onto the drums on my stock '72 Dana 44.
Hubs and all the bearings and such had to come out and off for inspection.
I've heard of some folks having front drums that do come off without the extra work, but all the techbooks say to remove hubs and such for inspection, so they should be together officially. Whether you can do it with a problem the other way, I think you could, but no experience with that here.

2cents though---anyone spending 50-100 on drums NEEDS to just save a little more and do the disk conversion. I'm seeing a guy with a whole kit on Ebay for around 250! The difference is night and day too!

 

[Bronco Sport]

Man that's on hard way to get your drums off.

My '68 had rivit like studs through the drum to the hub. After I pulled the hub I just drilled out the rivits, so the next brake job will be a lot easier. O also replaced the 4x4 locking hubs along with new bearings and seals.

 

[bronco977]

""""2cents though---anyone spending 50-100 on drums NEEDS to just save a little more and do the disk conversion. I'm seeing a guy with a whole kit on Ebay for around 250! The difference is night and day too!""""

I just did the E-Bay disc kit- it is really impressive! The kit is very complete and the instructions are easy to follow.

 

[Mazeing]

""""2cents though---anyone spending 50-100 on drums NEEDS to just save a little more and do the disk conversion. I'm seeing a guy with a whole kit on Ebay for around 250! The difference is night and day too!""""

DEFINITELY
You can't believe how nice it is to be able to stomp on the brakes and come to a nice straight, clean stop!

I had the same problem when I tried to take the drums off my e-Bay D44. We ended up doing basically the same thing to the passenger's side drum as the drum and pads were fused! Took a BFH and Cold Chisel and sent pieces all over my buddy's garage.

 

[Hogback]

if i remember correctly when i first pulled my hubs, i just tapped the wheel studs back about the distance of the hub thickness, and then the hubs were free to slip off. Luckily the brakes were'nt adjusted out far enough to bind.

 

[MnkyBiz]

Blue71 ,

These photos aren't the greatest, but I think you will get the gist?!?!?!

They are 11"ers!

MnkyBiz!