Drum Brakes

[mountain33]

Ok I know most of you will probably tell me to ditch the front drums and go to disk. Honestly I have come close to doing it. My problem is everything is original on my 71 Road Runner and I had wanted to keep it that way. My problem is I cant find a new drum for my car. My one drum is a little out of round. I could have them cut, if i can locate a shop that still does it. At that point i would rather go new. Anyone know of a supplier?

 

[hemi71x]

Rock Auto can't help you out at all?
Amazon vendors?
ebay?

 

[turbine68rt]

Found my 11" drums for a pretty good price at classic industries.

 

[dadsbee]

@mobileparts

 

[mtbase]

I'm with you on "keeping it original"...but when it comes to safety, you get to make minor exceptions and disk brakes are soo much better.

 

[Billccm]

Also consider musclecarbrakes.com to upgrade to better drums.

 

[Jax_1975_Dart]

As long as you properly tighten/adjust your drums before bleeding the lines... you can make drum brakes stop on a dime. I’m running 4 wheel drums in my daily and it’s safe. We work on a lot of b bodies at the garage. Are you sure Rockauto (or even the box stores like Napa) don’t have drums readily available for your vehicle?

 

[vintage chromoly]

4 wheel manual drums on my coronet.
Absolutely no desire or need to go to disc.

 

[Larrry B.]

I had 4 wheel manual drum brakes on my car for a few years when I first got it and they did work fine for regular street driving.
Even worked on the freeway going 65+ mph but did pull to the right when pressed hard at higher speeds.

Now I have 4 wheel power disk brakes and I couldn't be happier, my car is also far from stock.
Night and day difference but I think it will also depend on your driving wants / style.

 

[mobileparts]

mountain33,
Just came upon your thread.... And I have everything for you....
Master Cylinder, Wheel Cylinders, Brake Hoses,
++ N.O.S. ++ Asbestos ++ Brake Shoes, Brake Hardware, Wheel Bearings & Seals, and BRAKE DRUMS, Big Block and Small Block ( 11" / 10") Fronts & Rears....
Also every Wheel Studs -- including LEFTYs !!!!
I would list my phone number here, but they frown on that. (How dare I be up front & honest!!!!!) I will
P.M. you, presently....

 

[Jeff Miller]

Napa can get them

 

[mobileparts]

n a p a (Never American Parts Available) for Chineseum parts, NO knowledge, and wasting time.

You more than anyone, Jeff Miller, should know, that my knowledge in my little toe is far superior to every McDonald's burger flippers rejects at n a p a !!!!!!!!!

 

[Jeff Miller]

That is total uncalled for

 

[Jeff Miller]

You got front hubs for a 65 b-body

 

[Ron H]

I have a '65 Coronet rear in my '63 Plymouth and had converted to disk in the front. My rear brakes should be redone as the drums are maxed and I can't get the left adjuster set to the star. A weird thing as I know it was correct when I put them in. I had bought the kit from NAPA several years ago. Can say the front disks were a world of difference with stopping action but then what had been on the car was in need of new brakes anyway. Overkill? Despite only driving my car 1000 miles a year the number of dimwits on the road has seemed to increase 1000%.

 

[Fran Blacker]

You got front hubs for a 65 b-body

NAPA drum brake shoes don't count on them. Went to buy 11x2.5 none. Was able to buy manual adjusters L&R, teeth are slightly finer than OEM. Not as fine as self adjusters.

 

[JimCoronette]

In my 40+ years of owning vintage Mopars, I never had one with disk brakes; not by choice, just by coincidence.

I've always used self adjusters. I surgically clean and lube everything up when reassembling and usually don't have a problem.

The 2 times I did have problems were wheel cylinder related.

If I did have a chance at a disk brake car I would absolutely take it, but I don't see it as an absolute necessity unless you are going to run it hard.

Autozone has them. Double check on the width.

https://www.autozone.com/brakes-and...t/duralast-brake-drum-8765/238896_0_9514_2183

 

[threewood]

Front drums are swaged to the hub from the factory, correct?

I have no qualms running 4 wheel drums. I would see if a shop could turn it. They were made thicker back in the day so hopefully enough meat left to cut.

 

[MoparDanMan]

Ok I know most of you will probably tell me to ditch the front drums and go to disk. Honestly I have come close to doing it. My problem is everything is original on my 71 Road Runner and I had wanted to keep it that way. My problem is I cant find a new drum for my car. My one drum is a little out of round. I could have them cut, if i can locate a shop that still does it. At that point i would rather go new. Anyone know of a supplier?

Napa shows them, but they are proud of them. They start at $90.00 NAPA Pn#
ND 4401156

 

[AJ/FormS]

If I had a 71RR with front drums, there is no way I would keep it that way, because
the day will come when a situation arises, and your car needed just 1 less foot of stopping distance, that the disks might have given you.
So there you are with a smashed up 71RR nose, and on a loooooong hunt for expensive parts........ none of which will be original to your car.
I am not condemning drum brakes, not at all.
At the speeds a streeter generally drives, properly set up drums will do everything that discs will do........ at least once.

I'm just saying you have to thing about the whatifs.
Whatif some schmuck cuts you off and says he didn't see you?
Whatif a soccer-mom on a cell-phone fails to stop at a stopsign?
Whatif a deer runs over the hiway and you can't stop?
Whatif a three-year old kid follows a ball into traffic, out of nowhere!

Whatif all you needed was 6 less inches?