sherwood3333 Posted May 25, 2016 Share Posted May 25, 2016 front brake drums worn out, can anyone tell where I can buy new ones for a 49 super. thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beemon Posted May 25, 2016 Share Posted May 25, 2016 Kanter CARS I'd get you a link to Classic Buicks, but their website seems to be down. For what it's worth, I've heard that all of the distributors get their drums from the same manufacturer, but their warranties are different. I've also heard drums being out of round a few thousandths out of the box and have to be turned. I've only bought drums for the rear of my 56 since I mistakenly went to discs on the front, but I haven't had issues with them at all. They're from Kanter. Ordering from a supplier will be faster than trying to locate a NOS or used set but the older stuff was made differently from the newer stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NTX5467 Posted May 26, 2016 Share Posted May 26, 2016 IF the drums were stocked vertically, rather than horizontally, or might have been dropped in their vertical plane, then it's entirely possible that the drums could be a few thousandths out of round. All this will do is cause a slight pulsation when stopping. When we put 11x2" rear brakes on my '77 Camaro, there was a light brake pulsation when stopping. I drove the car enough to get several hot/cold cycles on the drums, THEN had then turned. No more issues after that. It can make the initial brake adjustment a little tricky, as well as the parking brake adjustment. But nothing which is not terribly major. All things considered, it's IS highly possible and probable that everybody re-sells drums from the same source. If you buy enough of them, the manufacturer will put the re-sellers' packaging around them. In looking at some of the brake manufacturer web sites, you kind of have to read between the lines to find what you want. Just because one re-seller might re-use another manufacturer's numeric part number does NOT necessarily mean it's the same part from different re-sellers, although there are "industry part numbers" for many brake parts. If the brake parts are like other things, the re-seller probably does not have the items in their physical inventory, getting the items drop-shipped from the item's manufacturer/vendor directly. As Beemon mentioned, check their pricing AND (as 5563 mentioned long ago) the RETURN policy! NTX5467 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sherwood3333 Posted May 26, 2016 Author Share Posted May 26, 2016 I tried kanter they did not have front drums, front drums have a cone , still looking thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beemon Posted May 26, 2016 Share Posted May 26, 2016 You will not be able to buy any new drums with the hub assembly attached, just FYI. You will need to grind off or drill out the rivets that hold the drum to the hub and then remove and discard the old drum. Just substitute grade 8 bolts for the rivets. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
s_hilmoe Posted May 26, 2016 Share Posted May 26, 2016 I may have a set available. I took them off a 4dr Roadmaster parts car. I have not mic'd them yet so I don't know for sure if they are still usable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sherwood3333 Posted May 27, 2016 Author Share Posted May 27, 2016 can any one tell me what size and thread , where to get studs thanks everyone for the help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beemon Posted May 27, 2016 Share Posted May 27, 2016 Size and thread for the lug bolts? Or rivets? I drilled some rivets out on a 65 Riviera front hub to get the aluminum drums off with a 1/4 drill bit. Since they're not threaded, I suppose you could just put 1/4 bolts through the holes. The rivets are really just there to center the drum on the hub assembly so they don't move around and someone else can correct me if I'm wrong, but they aren't required for vehicle operation. NAPA stocks the lug bolt if that's what you're inquiring about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sherwood3333 Posted May 27, 2016 Author Share Posted May 27, 2016 front wheel studs, that the lug nuts go on Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
s_hilmoe Posted May 27, 2016 Share Posted May 27, 2016 Buicks use lug bolts for the wheels. Studs are not used. Beemon posted a link to the correct bolt. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sherwood3333 Posted May 28, 2016 Author Share Posted May 28, 2016 beemon was right!!!, grind off rivets, drive out with punch, hub falls out, replace rivets with 1 1/2" 5/16 grade 8 bolts and nuts to new drums, put back on car , readjust brakes. it took me about 1 1/2 hrs. to do the job thanks everyone for your comments, this is a great forum !!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buick man Posted June 1, 2016 Share Posted June 1, 2016 …. And make sure to high temp red loc-tite the threads as well when duplicating a rivet to bolt replacement scheme due to heat sink and contraction forces …. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD1956 Posted June 2, 2016 Share Posted June 2, 2016 Personally, I do not think it is necessary to replace those rivets with anything. If the 5 lug bolts do not hold the drum to the hub, then there are some very major problems. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beemon Posted June 2, 2016 Share Posted June 2, 2016 The only reason I suggested the bolts is because they're used to locate the drum to the hub. Modern cars with lug studs don't rivet the drums to the hub anymore because the studs help locate the drum. And piece of mind. I've heard you don't need them either, but that was from the HAMB and they do things differently over there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NTX5467 Posted June 3, 2016 Share Posted June 3, 2016 On the vehicles with lug studs, it was common for the factory to use push-on metal retainers on one lug stud/wheel to keep the brake drum positioned firmly against the hub flange so that the wheels could be easily installed without worrying about if the drum was on "tight enough" . . . on the assembly line. At the first time the drums were removed from the vehicle, or the tires rotated the first time, those push-on metal retainers were usually removed and discarded. The rivets to the center hub would basically serve the same purpose, on the assembly line or anywhere else. All about "build quality" on the assembly line. Plus, a rivet (on the assembly line) takes the "human element" out of the equation as a rivet is either visibly "right" or "not right" . . . another factor for ease of assembly/quality control at the time of vehicle assembly. Take care, NTX5467 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
49_buick_super Posted June 7, 2016 Share Posted June 7, 2016 On 5/27/2016 at 6:20 PM, sherwood3333 said: beemon was right!!!, grind off rivets, drive out with punch, hub falls out, replace rivets with 1 1/2" 5/16 grade 8 bolts and nuts to new drums, put back on car , readjust brakes. it took me about 1 1/2 hrs. to do the job thanks everyone for your comments, this is a great forum !!!! Where did you find the front drums that you used as replacements after you succeeded in removing the hub from the drum? Can you post some pictures of the finished work? I wrestled with this same problem during my 49 Super restoration and you grabbed my curiosity with this post. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buick man Posted June 7, 2016 Share Posted June 7, 2016 ….. with high temp loc-tite on the threads we hope …. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beemon Posted June 7, 2016 Share Posted June 7, 2016 2 hours ago, 49_buick_super said: Where did you find the front drums that you used as replacements after you succeeded in removing the hub from the drum? Can you post some pictures of the finished work? I wrestled with this same problem during my 49 Super restoration and you grabbed my curiosity with this post. Thanks. Please refer to post #2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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