Brake advice - To skim or replace??

[matpoli]

Hey guys I have run out of adjustment to my FRONT drum brakes as they have been skimmed before and the oversize shoes have worn down.

The brakes still work and will for a bit longer but I'm not comfortable with them. So I want to replace them but need advice as to which way to go.

So my options are to skim the already skimmed drums and take my shoes off to have new brake material fitted to them, the price of this method is below:

$32 each drum to get them skimmed
$65 to put oversized material on my shoes (4 shoes)
Total - $129

OR

I can get some brand new brake drums from Rovacraft and some standard new (not oversized) brake shoes.

$65-$75 each for new drums depending on the suffix of my engine number????
$59 - for standard shoes

Total $189 - $209

Now my old man is very thorough and consults a lot of people about what to do. Unfortunately he always seems to consult an even number of people and the decision is always tied so he just goes for the tightass option.

The benefit of this option I think is that next time I need to replace the shoes I don't have to stuff around dropping off shoes to get material on again I just do an easy shoe change in the one sitting.

At this point the rears are fine so I am not worried about them.

So what you would do in my situation??

Thanks guys

[JDNSW]

If the drums have already been skimmed - new drums.

John

[isuzurover]

If the drums have already been skimmed - new drums.

John

x2. However shop around to see if you can get a better price on the drums. Don't forget the UK...

[Lotz-A-Landies]

You'll need shoes to match the drum size, so as Ben and John say, get new drums and standard shoes.

Don't understand the engine suffix relationship to brake drums???? :confused:
S2a drums all have 9/16" stud holes, so the drums are either 10" for a short wheelbase or for long wheelbase they are either 11" x 2 1/2" for 4cyl or 11" x 3" for a 6cyl (providing no one has retrofitted something else)

Remember SIII drums have 16mm stud holes which are bigger than the 9/16"

[Mick_Marsh]

Another one for new drums.

[101RRS]

Again - I am for new drums but have you actually measured the old drums to see if they are in limits. I cannot speak for series 2 drums but my 101 drums have the max internal diameter cast into the drums so I assume other series drums would be the same.

garry

[JDNSW]

.....

Remember SIII drums have 16mm stud holes which are bigger than the 9/16"

Unless I am mistaken, some late S2a had 16mm studs, although it is doubtful that any got to Australia. Of course, as with any Series Landrover, there is a distinct possibility that the brakes come from a different model, so you need to check whether the studs are 9/16 or 16mm. (And check the drum diameter if it is a swb!)

John

[gromit]

Have you checked that the drums actually need machining ?

As mentioned by garrycol the maximum internal diameter of the drum should be cast or stamped in the drum. If you're inside this dimension then you could get new oversize linings (let the brake company have the exact drum ID and they should be able to machine the linings to suit).

I had a chat with my father-in-law a few weeks ago about the drums on my Series 2. They are the originals (date cast in is 1959) but they are outside the Land Rover maximum ID. They have no maximum ID dimension cast/stamped on them.
His thoughts were :-
If there is no maximum dimension on the drum you could machine out further if required but you need to use common sense (which isn't so common nowadays !).
The fact that the drum has ridges in it isn't a problem except for initial bedding-in. The ridges create a larger surface area so the braking can be better than with new drums.


Colin

[geodon]

They pay for themselves in the long run.

Over many years, I've found that shoes will wear out unevenly on machined drums, i.e. on the leading edges whereas the trailing edges don't wear out much.

This means the leading edges are taking the brunt of the braking effort & the shoes wear out faster.

It was really bad with small drums eg MG Midget rear brakes.

[mick88]

If your drums have been machined once they are most likely out to the maximum or that close to it that they will be oversize with another cleanup. The max ID for them is 1/16 oversize (on both 10 and 11 inch drums. This is cast onto most of them)
So that only gives you just over a thirty thou cut before they are out to the max dia. A couple of decent grooves and your there!

Buy new drums, standard shoes fit, and you are away and driving.
Slip the drums off and clean them every so often and they will serve you well.
But take the advice given here and look at the UK for a better price on components.


Cheers, Mick.

[mick88]

Unless I am mistaken, some late S2a had 16mm studs, although it is doubtful that any got to Australia. Of course, as with any Series Landrover, there is a distinct possibility that the brakes come from a different model, so you need to check whether the studs are 9/16 or 16mm. (And check the drum diameter if it is a swb!)

John

I have a 1971 Series 2A with 5/8 or 16mm studs and it was one owner,
so I am pretty sure it was purchased new with them.

Cheers, Mick.

[matpoli]

Hey guys thanks for all the advice and it just confirmed what I was thinking as I just think new all round would be best.

I don't know how many times they have been skimmed previously but I know it's at least once as there is still heaps of material left on the shoes yet I have no adjustment left. My old man has them now so I'll have to ask him about what is stamped on them as I'm off to Sydney for work.

As to prices in the uk I didn't really look this time as ibthought the weight of the drums and the shipping cost would offset any gains.

Now I just need to convince my old man it's the right thing to do. I may need a printer lol.

[JDNSW]

I have a 1971 Series 2A with 5/8 or 16mm studs and it was one owner,
so I am pretty sure it was purchased new with them.

Cheers, Mick.

Thanks for that - a confirmation (more or less, anyway) that some actually made it here. (They will be 16mm - that was the only size ever used other than 9/16".)
John

[drifter]

Thanks for that - a confirmation (more or less, anyway) that some actually made it here. (They will be 16mm - that was the only size ever used other than 9/16".)
John

I have had 3 here - the 1967 has 9/16". The 1971 SWB had 16mm (I still have the diffs here) and the 1972 2a (it was a late arrival and first registered in '72) has 16mm