Measuring Brake Drums

[Rowdy]

I ran onto this a while back and bought one for measuring brake drums. Was tired of using a ball bearing and my micrometer (the Ron Cloat method). Although it is not a high end tool it does the job and is accurate. Rod

http://m.ebay.com/itm/Anytime-Tools-...%257Ciid%253A1

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Without a regular brake drum micrometer, you're just GUESSING, at best.
Bill W.

[Rowdy]

How do you figure that Bill? It measures the drum thickness of the drum that most experts over course of time have implied that .125" is the minimum safe thickness of original drums. While it does not give the ID it is known via Ford prints that the original thickness was .145". Not absolutely perfect it is a good indicator of what is scrap and what is usable as long as there are no heavy grooves. Rod

[Rowdy]

I would have prefered the pointed anvil type like used for brake rotors, but those only measure from .375 and over. So absolutely useless in this application. Rod

[Mitch]

Here is my AMMCO, it measures thie inside diameter accurately..

[Rowdy]

When these pass the wall thickness measurements, if I intend to use them that would be the next thing to measure before arching shoes to match. All I am doing at this point is determining safe or unsafe wall thickness. Any drum that fails I cut the swedges and discard. Saving just the hub. Have gone through 30+ fronts so far and only found 3 that meet the minimum wall thickness. Also scrapped 6 hubs that had shims behind the races. Chances are after I remove the rest of the races and measure the ID's I will scrap afew more. Have 9 more fronts to check wall thickness and a big pile of rear drums to measure. Loosing my storage so working hard to get rid of scrap. Rod

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Rowdy,
I was thinking about ordinary drums, which are sometimes ROUGH & UNEVEN on the outside.
Bill W.

[Rowdy]

No problem Bill. The cast drums with a stamped max ID of course go to the machine shop to be measured. The stamped steel Model A drums Ford never published a Max ID on them or even a minimum drum thickness. If they are badly pitted, grooved, etc I scrap them without bothering to measure. Some people claim they have turned them and used them,l. But there was not much to begin with so I would not bother as 2 passes and you are gauranteed to have used up your .020" that isn't likely you have to begin with.

Any way time to get back to the shop. Morning break time is over with. Rod

[Mitch]

I could never get a good surface turning a steel drum, they peel like a carrot

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

I had a grinding attachment that did steel drums beautifully. I "think" it takes JUST the right stone to accomplish this.
KDad

[Rowdy]

I never did try after seeing the simple math it looked like I waste of time. I have always wondered how many fine points cars have drums that are too thin? I know NOS pops up once in a while. Honestly if none could be found I would take the 5 point deduction. Just my thoughts. I am sure the thoughts of others vary. Rod

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Vermin has beautiful .010 OS steel drums & new Danish Woven Linings.
Bill Lucky

[Tom Wesenberg]

I never did try after seeing the simple math it looked like I waste of time. I have always wondered how many fine points cars have drums that are too thin? I know NOS pops up once in a while. Honestly if none could be found I would take the 5 point deduction. Just my thoughts. I am sure the thoughts of others vary. Rod

For max points in judging only the best original parts are used.
Once after being judged a couple times, some of these parts are removed and sold before the car becomes a regular driver.

[Chuck Sea/Tac]

Here's what I use.