Re: Drum Vs Disc... (a rant)

[oconner_us@xxxxxxxxx]

Matt-
"Where did you get drums for $40?"

I can't think of the name of the place, I think it is called C&T brake and clutch, a local place. He didn't have any 66 american drums so he sold me 72 gremlin drums. Wow, they looked EXACTLY like the american drums. 

On August 11, 2005 Arfon Gryffydd wrote:

> Jamie-
> 
> You're lucky!  Of the disc braked vehicles I have had the un-pleasurable
> experience to work on, all have been held on with bolts.

I have worked on bolted calipers also but the bolts have always easily come out. 

> 
> Next time my friend's Lincoln needs brakes, I'll call you so you can enjoy
> bolted on calipers.  I went through 4 stinkin' torx-sockets on that danged
> car. :)

Must just be your luck, or your climate. :) I have even watched my dad and brother do brakes and not have any problems getting the bolts out. 


> Disc vehicles I have had to work on:
> 1992 Ford Probe
> ~$130
> http://froogle.google.com/froogle?num=20&hl=en&lr=&tab=wf&q=92+Ford+Probe+Rotors&btnG=Search+Froogle
> 
> 2001 Dodge Dakota ~$130
> http://froogle.google.com/froogle?num=20&hl=en&lr=&tab=wf&q=Dodge+Dakota+Rotors&btnG=Search+Froogle
> 
> 2002 Dodge RAM ~$150
> http://froogle.google.com/froogle?num=20&hl=en&lr=&tab=wf&q=Dodge+RAM+Rotors&btnG=Search+Froogle
> 
> 1998 Lincoln Continental ~$100
> http://froogle.google.com/froogle?num=20&hl=en&lr=&tab=wf&q=Lincoln+Continental+Rotors&btnG=Search+Froogle
> 
> Now these were all FROOGLE prices which do not include shipping.  I know
> that the all the rotors I bought above have been $130 to $180 per pair locally.
> 
> I'd LOVE to get a $15 set of rotors!

It was the pads that were $15 a set, the rotors were $40 a set ($20 each) but still a heck of a lot cheaper then yours
 
> >No new tools required. Rotors $50, pads $15. I do the work myself so $65
> >in parts. I can even throw in new calipers for $17 each so add another $34
> >to that and I am still not over $100.
> 
> Even if you don't need a new tool AND you can find unrealistically cheap
> rotors, your're still 144% more expensive than drums to repair.
> 
> 
> 
> >When I did the brakes on my american (drums). I had to replace both front
> >drums and one rear drum at a cost of $40 each, all 4 wheel cylinders at a
> >cost of $25 each, springs (hold down kits) at a cost of $14 per side and
> >self adjuster kits at $15 per axle and brake shoes at $12 per axle. so we
> >have drums $120, wheel cylinders $100, springs $28, adjusters $30, brake
> >shoes $24 for a total of $302. So if I had replaced that 4th drum I would
> >have been at $342 making the total price $171 per axle. Almost 2 times the
> >cost of disc brakes on my eagle or my boss' ford. On the other hand, those
> >drum brakes should last a while. Not long after doing all of the brakes my
> >master cylinder went out. I bought a new one for $14 and then paid another
> >$10 for fittings to make it work so I am into my american for $325 on
> >brakes. The only things that haven't been replaced is one drum and the lines.
> 
>   Ah, I would expect to have to replace the drums on a 30+ year old car (I
> never had to (yet) but, it's reasonable).  What I don't expect is to have
> to replace rotors at the first brake pad change (which I have had to do
> every time so far).
> 
> Just my thoughts

I'm not arguing with you on this issue, I was just sharing my thoughts and experiences and the pricing differences I have experienced. I have replaced most of the brake system on my american (minus one drum and the lines) for around $325. I am due for a brake job on my eagle. Not sure yet what parts I will need but I am figuring if I had to replace the entire system except for the lines it would be about $250. I am looking at replacing the entire brake system on my classic, including the brake lines. It looks like that is going to come in close to $400 plus the lines. But I would rather pay the higher price for drum system. 

As far as talk about brake fade, I have never experienced that in my cars and the only time I have even been in a vehicle that had that problem was when my dad was using his pickup (don't remember year but it was a chevy half ton) to tow a 1968 Jeep Wagoneer down a steep hill and the jeep had no brakes and the second time was a few years ago with his current truck (1976 chevy 3/4 ton). He was towing a large (7' by 12') all wood shed down hill. (you probably don't want to know). 
and the third time was in a work truck that didn't have the greatest of brakes (although the brakes were better than the clutch). It was a 1981 Dodge 3/4 ton club cab with a dump bed. We were towing a trailer full of lawn equipment (the trailer its self weighed 1200 pounds) and had 3200 pounds of grass in the back. Yes I am sure of those weights, we had to stop at the dump and unload when we came out we weighed 3200 pounds less than when we went in and we weighed 1200 pounds more empty towing the trailer than we normally did empty with out the trailer. So that 4600 pounds of extra weight woth bad brakes may have made a difference. 

Jamie

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