Newb Q: Identifying Front End Drum Brake Parts

[pipeline010]

Hey guys,

putting orders together to rebuild front drum brakes (rear has been done). Expect to order:

Drums/Shoes
Hardware
Auto-Adjusters
Cylinders

Rubber Connectors from cylinder<>brake line
SS Midline brake lines

How do I know which sizes I'm ordering? I understand there seems to be some sort of different drum size that occurred at 1969-1/2?

My truck is a '69, original D30. I do have the power wipers which, as I understand it, were only installed in the second half of 1969.

As everything is being pulled, I'm also flushing the d30 and replacing Hub races and bearings and inner seals. Wouldn't turn down info on those parts either.

Thanks.

 

[Hotrodjohn]

the front shoes should be the same, 11 x 2 for the 11 inch drum.

 

[gr8scott]

From the Wild Horses web page:


BRAKES
Ford equipped the 1966-1975 Bronco with four wheel drum brakes. The rearend came with either 10 x 2 1/2" or 11 x 1 3/4" drums. The front was 11 x 2".
1976-1977 Broncos came with 11 x 2 1/4" rear drums and front disc brakes. Power brakes were optional.

 

[pipeline010]

This line was my concern, also from the Wildhorses website -

**Early 69 Front Drums are thin at the hub mounting surface, approximately 1/8" thick. The Late 69 Front Drums are thicker at the hub mounting surface, approximately 9/32" thick.

 

[Hotrodjohn]

This line was my concern, also from the Wildhorses website -

**Early 69 Front Drums are thin at the hub mounting surface, approximately 1/8" thick. The Late 69 Front Drums are thicker at the hub mounting surface, approximately 9/32" thick.

But the front shoes are the same I believe..

 

[DirtDonk]

Are yours still installed, or removed? Any way to measure, or even estimate/eyeball the thickness of the existing centers?
It's a relatively substantial difference it seems. More than double the thickness.

Paul

 

[pipeline010]

Are yours still installed, or removed? Any way to measure, or even estimate/eyeball the thickness of the existing centers?
It's a relatively substantial difference it seems. More than double the thickness.

Paul

Ya. I've ordered a bunch of the stuff I needed (SS lines and Inner seals from WH) but have yet to pull the trigger on the drums and shoes. As annoying as it is I may pull them just to check.

Wish my local big box had drums still, would make this process a lot easier.

 

[DirtDonk]

Yeah, I hear ya on that!
Not sure if pulling them makes it easier or not. I've never compared them myself, so don't know the best way. And all of my drums are either the later model, or long gone for discs.

Maybe someone knows some tricks of the trade that would allow this measurement to be taken semi-accurately without dismounting them.

Paul

 

[Pa PITT]

....
... ok & I just have to ask. ''SIDELINE''
What does SJ= cows+ hot chicks...mean!!. I grew up on a farm . Raised on a dairy.. Been to San Jose & Married one of the prettiest girls in school.
I even goggled it ... YOU'VE GOT MY GOAT!
.

 

[B RON CO]

Hi, well Pa Pitt, I learned not to ask. I would guess there are cows in the barn and chicks in the incubator. A new brood.
I hope.
But I would ask if pipline measured the drums, because I would not replace them unless they were really thin, and it is very unusual to need star adjusters.
I hate to see good original parts replaced by imported @#$_ for no reason.
Keep calm and good luck

 

[rjrobin2002]

Order a disk brake kit and dont worry about the drum rebuild is my advice.

I rebuilt a set of drums once, 6 months later converted to disk. I bet I could convert yours to disk for the same price of your drum rebuild if you find lots of parts are shot.

 

[Pa PITT]

Robin .. i wanted to say that so bad.
GO TO DISK.
OK PiPELINE you've got 450 post so you aint a rocky.
I owned a parts store from 1974 until 1999 . Wanted it longer but, That didn't happen .. I put new brake shoes on my Bronco cost about maybe 10.00 . & I wanted to say just ask & someone will ship you their old drums. If yours are bad. Don't try to make a SILK Purse out of a SOWS EAR. . Drum brakes suck. & I thought for years mine were too good until I replaced them with Disk.
... But once I did the disk .. I can't believe .. & All I have is just disk. Same drum M/C not power .. Not Boostered . & I can Skid my 16's... R285's ...
.... SO Pipeline nothing beat disk. & Leave the drums on the back .
I wanted to say Front drums are a waist of money.

 

[Joe473]

Hey guys,

putting orders together to rebuild front drum brakes (rear has been done). Expect to order:

Drums/Shoes
Hardware
Auto-Adjusters
Cylinders

Rubber Connectors from cylinder<>brake line
SS Midline brake lines

How do I know which sizes I'm ordering? I understand there seems to be some sort of different drum size that occurred at 1969-1/2?

My truck is a '69, original D30. I do have the power wipers which, as I understand it, were only installed in the second half of 1969.

As everything is being pulled, I'm also flushing the d30 and replacing Hub races and bearings and inner seals. Wouldn't turn down info on those parts either.

Thanks.

I would do the disks myself. If you are in there that deep doing the carrier look at king pins tie rods etc and throw the Chevy disk conversion on the d30. If you want to stay drums. I'll check this weekend if I still have my drums and other front hardware. I may still have my front backing plates with shoes and hardware all there.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

 

[pipeline010]

no matter how I shake it disk upgrades are just:

1. too expensive for the moment.
2. way too much potential for frustration to go the cheaper route.

My drum brakes brake wonderfully. I do have a very slight pull to the right at first impact of shoes on drums. Given the alignment is perfect I'm thinking warped drum. The brake situation in the rear was a complete mess so I have to assume the front is similar.

Which insinuates old old bearings. And old old ujoints.

Disk brakes at some point maybe. Even with that very slight pull (and I do mean slight) the brakes are functioning very very well right now. I can go from 50 - 0 with plenty of room to spare (as long as I'm not up someones ass).

For under $250 I'm rebuilding from one side all the way to the other (excluding carrier bearings) on a truck that's marginally perfect for me at the moment. Cheaper is rarely better, but it's certainly working fine and I don't really see a pressing need to upset that.

My wiring harness needs to be swapped. That's where the $ is going when the time comes.

 

[pipeline010]

....
... ok & I just have to ask. ''SIDELINE''
What does SJ= cows+ hot chicks...mean!!. I grew up on a farm . Raised on a dairy.. Been to San Jose & Married one of the prettiest girls in school.
I even goggled it ... YOU'VE GOT MY GOAT!
.

South Jersey!

Anyone who's been to NYC sees NJ as the armpit capital of the country. But I live in the deep south of NJ. I'm 40 minutes from a Rodeo, surrounded by farms, 20 minutes to the blueberry capital of the world, and our girls are absolutely beautiful, best in the whole country.

I've lived in Newport Beach, RI, visited FL often, TX, owned a house in NH (family). South Jersey wins hands down no contest.

 

[Seventee]

Can't help you on the size, but suggest you simply have your existing drums turned if they are still within spec. I wouldn't replace bearings and races either unless they are shot, especially if you still have good USA bearings to start with. Adjusters can be cleaned and lubed.

 

[Pa PITT]

Great Story Pipeliner.. I'd go along with every thing except the women.
I used to have a Supervisor that came out of the main parts wearhouse I used when I had the parts store. He come to take me to dinner .. He'd call & say I'm headed to FOXVILLE.
hE SWORE Stephenville had the prettest girl anywhere he went.
...........
... Sadly as times have changed the young ladys have began to eat better & shop at Walmart too often.