Re: [Amc-list] DRUM BRAKES IN THE RAIN -- OH FUN

[russ hathaway <russh97309@xxxxxxxxx>]

Tom; about two years ago (or so) when everyone started bad mouthing drum brakes in favor of discs I wrote in about the 72 Ambassador wagon drums that I have on my American, all four corners. One modification that I did was to drill them. I drilled eight vent holes in the drum itself plus a couple in the backing plate.
The reason for doing so is simple, the big brakes are a dime a dozen as everyone is switching to discs.
And those big ambo drums stop my '65 like no ones business- try 60-0 in less than 120 ft. That is state of the art as far as brakes go, folks.
A couple of things to also do is make sure your plates are smooth where the shoes run on. I welded up the scars from the old shoes, then ground them smooth. Lube that area.
I also had the shoes relined with Kevlar linings, there is a company that will do that.
Adjust them per TSM and you are good to go.
When I wrote about running drums versus discs I got all sorts of rank email, how about you Tom, are they ragging on you as well.
As comparison I ran discs off a late 70s Concord on the car and got a little worse gas mileage with no better stopping, since you can adjust those drums to zero drag.
The only benefit I can see to discs versus GOOD DRUMS is ease of getting parts, I can get pads off the shelf at any parts store versus having to wait a few days for shoes and cylinders.
Just a rant about your drum conversion, I guess if I had submitted pics (and those are real nice pictures, Tom) maybe I wouldn't have been dragged over the coals.....Russ


      
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