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This is for all those that are tempted to upgrade to discs - I took a friend's, new to him, 64 Cutlass with power assisted, drum brakes out for test drive yesterday and just had to comment on it's braking, it was spectacular! Original drums, new shoes, unknown vintage MC and booster. Stopped quick and straight with minimal pedal pressure, and sad to say better than my 65 with power assisted, stainless sleeved, OEM disc brakes and organic pads. I was immediately jealous.
I upgraded my MC years ago to a dual chamber and added an OEM power booster years ago and have replaced the hoses are all 4 wheels more recently and I'm not complaining about my braking. Of course it's not on a par with any of my other more modern vehicles but seeing it wasn't even as good as a vintage car are like the Cutlass was disappointing. It's not surprising that certain diehards swear by properly functioning drum brake systems and unless you race, I have to agree with them.
Last edited by 65air_coupe; 02-20-2019 at 08:10 AM.
Drum brakes got me around Road Atlanta last year lap after lap without issue. My speeds on their long straight were modest in the mid 120’s with my 3.70 gear and tired l75 which helped!
Drum brakes on my 63 may well have saved my life three years ago...
Corvettes have basically station wagon drum brakes - if maintained and assembled correctly they'll lock up the wheels in a panic situation...
I agree. Drums on all my old cars with no issues. Admit that for repeated high speed stops from above 100 mph that discs are superior. The way I drive my old cars, not an issue. The key is to have the drum brakes set up as the manufacturer intended. People drove for decades on drums and survived somehow,..
I still have the original type drum brakes on my 57. They work very well except that occasionally they will pull one direction or the other for no apparent reason unreasonably hard brake. It seems to be the first time or two that I hit the brakes after it has sat for a while.
As I've pointed out here before, I've had drums on the 56 ever since I bought it in 73, and about 1990, I made my own version of heavy duty drums. They work great and I can lock up all 4 if needed.
Front
Comparison of stock 2in shoe on front and 2 1/2in shoe as used on HD front drums. For street driving, with HD brakes, Chevrolet recommended using late 50s-early 60s Olds type front shoes. That's what I have.
Rear
Stock rear shoes were 1 3/4in. I have 2in on the rear, which is the size of stock front shoes.
My 70 Chevelle has stock finned pwr drums, although, the front drums are finned alum Buick drums. They work just great.
As I've pointed out here before, I've had drums on the 56 ever since I bought it in 73, and about 1990, I made my own version of heavy duty drums. They work great and I can lock up all 4 if needed.
Front
Comparison of stock 2in shoe on front and 2 1/2in shoe as used on HD front drums. For street driving, with HD brakes, Chevrolet recommended using late 50s-early 60s Olds type front shoes. That's what I have.
Rear
Stock rear shoes were 1 3/4in. I have 2in on the rear, which is the size of stock front shoes.
My 70 Chevelle has stock finned pwr drums, although, the front drums are finned alum Buick drums. They work just great.
Tom,
Will the Olds brake shoes fit in the stock 1957 brake drums or only in the drums you have on your car?
Tom,
Will the Olds brake shoes fit in the stock 1957 brake drums or only in the drums you have on your car?
The 2 1/2in Olds shoes will only work with a wider drum, such as the 57-62 FRONT drums.
The drums I have on the front of the 56 are from mid-70s GM A-body (Malibu, Cutlass, etc) station wagons. They originally had a 1/2in wide flange all the way around the inner side of the drum, and I cut off the flange in my brake lathe.
Here is what the drums look like origunally.
Once the flange gets cut down to the fins, slow careful cuts had to be made to keep the cutter from snagging on the ends of the fins.
I also ran the cutting bar all the way down into the inside corner of the drum to gain about 1/16in additional braking surface.
This is after the flange was cut off..
These are original 57-58 HD drums. They have fewer fins than my "home made" HD drums.
Here is how the fins look when the wheel is installed.
I had to fabricate a spacer (from a giant washer) for the front wheel cylinders to space them away from the backing plate (arrow) so that the push rods would line up with the wider shoes.
My total investment for the home made HD brakes, including self adjusting kits, was about $500. One HECK OF A LOT CHEAPER than rounding up original HD parts for $2000 per drum!!!!!!!!!! (of course, I did all the labor)
The 2 1/2in Olds shoes will only work with a wider drum, such as the 57-62 FRONT drums.
The drums I have on the front of the 56 are from mid-70s GM A-body (Malibu, Cutlass, etc) station wagons. They originally had a 1/2in wide flange all the way around the inner side of the drum, and I cut off the flange in my brake lathe.
Here is what the drums look like origunally.
Once the flange gets cut down to the fins, slow careful cuts had to be made to keep the cutter from snagging on the ends of the fins.
I also ran the cutting bar all the way down into the inside corner of the drum to gain about 1/16in additional braking surface.
This is after the flange was cut off..
These are original 57-58 HD drums. They have fewer fins than my "home made" HD drums.
Here is how the fins look when the wheel is installed.
I had to fabricate a spacer (from a giant washer) for the front wheel cylinders to space them away from the backing plate (arrow) so that the push rods would line up with the wider shoes.
My total investment for the home made HD brakes, including self adjusting kits, was about $500. One HECK OF A LOT CHEAPER than rounding up original HD parts for $2000 per drum!!!!!!!!!! (of course, I did all the labor)
I went with the stock drum brakes when I rebuilt my ‘54. It stops straight and true. Stock steering too, effortless and precise. Car handles like a go-cart and is an absolute blast to drive. Can’t wait for spring.
I went with the stock drum brakes when I rebuilt my ‘54. It stops straight and true. Stock steering too, effortless and precise. Car handles like a go-cart and is an absolute blast to drive. Can’t wait for spring.
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, do I see a fast steering adapter and a 1962 ONLY transmission mount plate, and a bracket for a Z-bar??????? VERY GOOD!!!!
(I might mention that if you add 1in spacers BETWEEN the frame X-member and the transmission cross member, it will greatly improve U-joint angles).
02-03-2019, 04:01 PM
Vintage drum brakes
It stops straight and true. Stock steering too, effortless and precise. Car handles like a go-cart and is an absolute blast to drive. Can’t wait for spring.
