The purpose of brake drum screws

[sisyphus]

What is the purpose of the brake drum screws ? Is it intended to hold the drum in place when the wheel is removed ? Is this its sole purpose ?
The reason I bring this up is I've purchased a complete brake overhaul kit that will do all four corners the kit includes all the hardware , drums , linings , cylinders , springs , brake adjuster repair kit and drum screws , but only one per drum .The old drums have three per brake drum ( OEM ) the new drums have only one drum screw hole against the three in original setup ....I suppose it's simply a cost saving measure !

[Mick_Marsh]

Imagine you are driving along and the wheel came off closely followed by the brake drum. You panic and quickly jab your foot on the brake.
What would you imagine would happen?
Now imagine what would happen in the same situation but this time the brake drum stayed on because you remembered to put in those little, insignificant looking screws.

That is why you put in those screws.

One to be sure. Two to be sure to be sure. Three to be sure to be sure to be sure.

I'd put in as many as you have holes for.

[Dizza]

Imagine you are driving along and the wheel came off closely followed by the brake drum. You panic and quickly jab your foot on the brake.
What would you imagine would happen?
Now imagine what would happen in the same situation but this time the brake drum stayed on because you remembered to put in those little, insignificant looking screws.

That is why you put in those screws.

One to be sure. Two to be sure to be sure. Three to be sure to be sure to be sure.

I'd put in as many as you have holes for.

Well said Mick :D

[sisyphus]

That's fine but what I was trying to elude too is that with the original setup ie 1970 you had THREE drum screws but the new drum has only ONE screw and ONE hole , not whether or not I was going to put the screws in.

[Mick_Marsh]

So, how many can you put in?

[sisyphus]

It's only one per drum, thats all there is one hole for one drum screw per drum ! I was attempting to bring out the point that in 1970 Land Rover thought 3 drum screws were required but in 2013 one is enough to hold the brake drum in place when the wheel is off.I understand your point that if you lose a wheel while travelling at speed you don't want the drum to follow allowing the brake pads to spread wide and have the braking force lost to remaining 3 wheels.:blush:

[Xtreme]

One is probably enough but you could always drill two more holes in each drum and fit three as original. Shouldn't be too difficult to mark them out using the old drums as templates.

[sisyphus]

I've been thinking on that idea as well and is what I will do , as it is fairly wet here today, it will a good day in the shed ! Thanks.

[reg of the overflow]

had a wheel come off my '61 at about 60kph. brake drum stayed on because of the insignificant little screws, but they sure did their job. :eek: