The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Refurbishing Brake drums

hi all i have a 1934 Chev one and a half ton try truck and the rear brake drums are badly worn is there a way to refurbish these drums to bring them back to serviceable as I have not been able to find replacement drums for the vehicle

Are they worn past the point of grinding them?
Jon

What is your wheel bolt pattern? GM 14 bolt rear axles come in various widths, 8 on 6.5 which you probably do not have-adapters are easily made. Dana 70 and 80 come with 5/10 bolt patterns.

Ed

psmith,

Flame spraying is a process that is used to deposit metal on worn/damaged surfaces and for cosmetic and rust prevention purposes.

http://www.precisioncoatings.com/what-is-thermal-spray.html

The challenge is finding someone who has even heard of it if you are in a rural area.

If you haven't tried making a parts wanted request at the VCCA site, that might be a worthwhile effort.

Hi the bolt pattern is 10 boltson the back with a hubcap ring at the front with a 5 bolt pattern the ware on the drums is almost to the point tht i is to far to grind so was looking to see if there is a way of building it back up

Here's a company in Australia that does spray welding .

Maybe you should have a conversation with them .

link

http://qspengineering.com.au/electric-arc-spraying-system/#

So with the 10/5 bolt pattern, you are limited to Dana 70 or 80, unless can make steel wheel adapters.

Ed

........just a thought. I wonder if the guys who weld and build up cranks and then turn them back down have a set up where they can do that? I won't be in town for a few weeks or I would ask the guy who always did mine and my brothers crankshaft work.
Like I said, just a thought if there is no other way.

Alvin, I'm pretty familiar with the "submerged arc" process used on crankshafts, and I doubt if it would be adaptable to brake drums. A series of overlapping weld beads about 1/4" wide is applied to a crankshaft, then the surface is reground to the correct diameter. The amount of welding necessary to build up a brake drum surface would be slow and expensive, and there would probably be a lot of distortion involved due to heat warping. It would probably be better to find a replacement drum of the correct diameter and width, and do some sort of machining/welding process to swap centers. Less welding, less distortion, and a much better chance of success, IMHO.
Jerry