Ever seen a brake drum do this before? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Tynee · 02-15-2010, 04:56 PM

A little while back, I was in traffic in my '70, hit the brakes, and was slowing down until I heard a "pop" and then I wasn't slowing down anymore. It turned out ok, though. The guy driving the Trailblazer in front of me was nice enough to stop my truck for me...

This weekend I finally got around to pulling the front wheels off to start the tear-down and see what caused the problem. I was running out of light by the time I got the wheels off, so I don't know yet exactly WHAT caused this, but when I got the passenger's side wheel off, I immediately said to myself, "Yep, that'll cause you to not be able to stop, alright..."

gcburdic · 02-15-2010, 05:08 PM

Tynee....whoa....glad everyone was okay...it's time for the full disc brake upgrade....NOW

!!!

Trip59 · 02-15-2010, 05:17 PM

I'd love to see the shoes and surface of the drum... did you notice any drag before it happened, like possible a seizing brake that caused it to severely overheat?

Trip

junkyardjohn · 02-15-2010, 05:19 PM

SO THATS WHAT THAT SPRING IS FOR.

THATS GOTTA BE ONE FOLR THE RECORD BOOKS. JOHN

Jim_PA · 02-15-2010, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by junkyardjohn

SO THATS WHAT THAT SPRING IS FOR.

THATS GOTTA BE ONE FOLR THE RECORD BOOKS. JOHN

Yeah, no kidding! could have been worse, glad it wasn't too bad of an accident.

cdowns · 02-15-2010, 05:59 PM

the spring is the way they came from factory//it was a device to quiet the brake harmonics

i'd b willing to bet ometime someone tried removing that brake drum with A BFH not realizing the rivets needed to b grond off for removal

wHATANERD · 02-15-2010, 06:16 PM

Yeap, had a rear on My 69 do the exact same thing.

**seafoam68** · 02-15-2010, 06:28 PM

Wow ! I have heard of "driving the wheels off of one"

Wrenchbender Ret · 02-15-2010, 07:13 PM

More then likely someone turned the drum a lot more then recomended. That's why they have laws against it.

BLACK AND BLUE 67-72 · 02-15-2010, 07:15 PM

I'd almost bet that it has been turned below minimum specs, I have see several of them break like that!!

jeffspower · 02-15-2010, 07:46 PM

Yep, too thin and it popped. Time to check them all for diameter... to the bottom of the worn grooves.

**too much stuff** · 02-15-2010, 07:54 PM

I wonder if it was ever turned? Still has the original rivits it looks like. I suppose it could be turned with the hub still on there. Either way, time for new or a disc upgrade.

**68 Stepside** · 02-15-2010, 08:18 PM

Never seen one crack like that, but have heard of it. It does remind me of a funny story though....

I was a Jr. in high school, and wanted to drive my friends 68 Chevelle to prom. It was kinda rough, re-skinned quarters not done well, medium blue metallic with a white top and interior, 307/powerglide...nothing special, but I liked it anyway. He told me it was no problem for me to take it to prom. Awesome.

I was driving it home (across a tiny town, maybe 10 blocks) and realized pretty quickly it'd barely stop. Made this awful noise when applying the brakes too. My friend failed to see the problem

The day after prom I helped his Dad tear into the car. When we pulled the right front wheel off, the drum was in two pieces, due to the shoe being worn to nothing and literally cutting through the edge of the drum!!!

Thanks for bringing that memory up for me, still cracks me up that my buddy didn't realize there was anything wrong

LONGHAIR · 02-15-2010, 09:19 PM

Yup, I have seen that before. I have seen more than one where the "drum" broke loose of the flange too. Loose internal parts rubbed the inside until is was nearly cut in two, then applying a little too much brake....and it spun apart. The shoes didn't break the drum, but it wasn't going to help with the stopping either...

Tynee · 02-15-2010, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gcburdic

Tynee....whoa....glad everyone was okay...it's time for the full disc brake upgrade....NOW

!!!

Nope, staying drums. I'm determined to get good at adjusting and maintaining drum brakes. Not really a skill that is that critical in life, but I hate being a falure at something, too.

Besides, I can rebuild the current setup that's been stopping the truck just fine for 40 years for $150, or I can drop $1500 into a disc upgrade...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trip59

I'd love to see the shoes and surface of the drum... did you notice any drag before it happened, like possible a seizing brake that caused it to severely overheat?

Trip

I'll post more pics when I get more time to work on it. I didn't feel or hear any dreag at all. It pulled just a little when I applied the brake suddenly, but IIRC, it pulled the other way.

Quote:

Originally Posted by junkyardjohn

SO THATS WHAT THAT SPRING IS FOR.

THATS GOTTA BE ONE FOLR THE RECORD BOOKS. JOHN

JYJ!!!! Long time, no see. Are you still loving life here in the Commonwealth? I was just thinking about you the other day when I tried to type somehting in all caps, and the forum wouldn't let me.

Thanks for the concern guys, nobody was hurt, and now I have a good excuse to go looking for a correct '70 front end insteadd of the '71/2 that was on the truck when I bought it. It ain't nothing but money and time

...

QKENUF4U · 02-15-2010, 11:45 PM

glad things worked out for the best and no one got hurt...

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdowns

i'd b willing to bet ometime someone tried removing that brake drum with A BFH not realizing the rivets needed to b grond off for removal

they are riveted on ?? never seen that on any truck ive ever worked on....

Trip59 · 02-16-2010, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tynee

Besides, I can rebuild the current setup that's been stopping the truck just fine for 40 years for $150, or I can drop $1500 into a disc upgrade...

My thoughts exactly, I'm about to do a full replacement on the rear of mine (though I'll turn the drums if they have meat left, they're FINNED!)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tynee

I'll post more pics when I get more time to work on it. I didn't feel or hear any dreag at all. It pulled just a little when I applied the brake suddenly, but IIRC, it pulled the other way.

I used to run a brake shop, I've seen many cracks and fractures from severe overheating and combined impact (either puddles, snow, too thin, etc.) but nothing so glorious!

Trip

tumbleweed68 · 02-16-2010, 10:44 PM

the front disk brake thing isn't to bad if you want to get a little greasy. You can get spindles, rotors, calipers from a junk yard pretty cheap. I am putting the whole front suspension out of an 80 chevy half ton in mine. Not as bad of a job as i thought really. But on the other hand, I can respect a man wanting to keep it simple!! Just keep the wheels rollin, or in your case, StOPPIN!! LOL

Old Yeller 1970 · 02-17-2010, 12:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tynee

Ever seen a brake drum do this before?

Been there done that. Found out I can't keep turning them down forever.

I do highly recommend the disk conversion. I pulled the hardware off a '71. It was time well spent and worth every penny .

02-15-2010, 04:56 PM	#1
Tynee I miss this truck. Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Lexington, KY U.S.A. Posts: 2,863	Ever seen a brake drum do this before? A little while back, I was in traffic in my '70, hit the brakes, and was slowing down until I heard a "pop" and then I wasn't slowing down anymore. It turned out ok, though. The guy driving the Trailblazer in front of me was nice enough to stop my truck for me... This weekend I finally got around to pulling the front wheels off to start the tear-down and see what caused the problem. I was running out of light by the time I got the wheels off, so I don't know yet exactly WHAT caused this, but when I got the passenger's side wheel off, I immediately said to myself, "Yep, that'll cause you to not be able to stop, alright..." __________________ '07 GMC Acadia SLT. Sweet ride. '08 Crew Cab Z-71 short bed. Really like this truck A LOT.

02-15-2010, 05:08 PM	#2
gcburdic Restoration Virgin! Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Huntersville, NC Posts: 8,298	Re: Ever seen a brake drum do this before? Tynee....whoa....glad everyone was okay...it's time for the full disc brake upgrade....NOW!!! __________________ Geoff with a G 1968 Chevy C10 SWB The Mistress 1972 Custom Deluxe C20 Suburban A Suburban Named Isabella 1966 Ford Mustang Mama's High School Graduation Present

02-15-2010, 05:17 PM	#3
Trip59 Who needs sleep... Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Middleburg, Florida Posts: 260	Re: Ever seen a brake drum do this before? I'd love to see the shoes and surface of the drum... did you notice any drag before it happened, like possible a seizing brake that caused it to severely overheat? Trip

02-15-2010, 05:19 PM	#4
junkyardjohn Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: SOMERSET KY. Posts: 6,425	Re: Ever seen a brake drum do this before? SO THATS WHAT THAT SPRING IS FOR. THATS GOTTA BE ONE FOLR THE RECORD BOOKS. JOHN __________________ junkyardjohn 69 1 TON TOW TRUCK // 84 4WD CUCV BLAZER// 85 1 TON 4WD STAKE TRUCK// 86 M1031 5/4 TON 4WD CUCV// ALOT OF OLD TRUCKS FOR ONE OLD MAN TO DRIVE. THERES ROOM FOR ALL OF GODS CREATURES RIGHT NEXT TO MY MASHED POTATOES// LIFE MEMBER OF P.E.T.A (PEOPLE EATING TASTY ANIMALS) DON'T RENT U-HAUL ALWAYS TELL THE TRUTH IT WILL AMAZE PART OF THE PEOPLE & ASTONISH THE REST

02-15-2010, 05:59 PM	#6
cdowns Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: daytonabeach Posts: 22,956	Re: Ever seen a brake drum do this before? the spring is the way they came from factory//it was a device to quiet the brake harmonics i'd b willing to bet ometime someone tried removing that brake drum with A BFH not realizing the rivets needed to b grond off for removal __________________ 71c-10 350/2004r/4:11 lowered3/4 longbed/dead by hurricane MEANING OF DEATH::::: SOMEBODY ELSE GETS YOUR STUFF DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK TAKE MY ADVISE;I DON'T USE IT ANYWAY Last edited by cdowns; 02-15-2010 at 06:43 PM.

02-15-2010, 06:16 PM	#7
wHATANERD Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Uvalde, Tx Posts: 407	Re: Ever seen a brake drum do this before? Yeap, had a rear on My 69 do the exact same thing. __________________ 1969 C/10 Longbed undergoing rebuild. Old Chevy's Never Die, They Just Rust Around The Edges

02-15-2010, 06:28 PM	#8
seafoam68 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 259	Re: Ever seen a brake drum do this before? Wow ! I have heard of "driving the wheels off of one"

02-15-2010, 07:13 PM	#9
Wrenchbender Ret Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Overland Park, Ks. Posts: 5,229	Re: Ever seen a brake drum do this before? More then likely someone turned the drum a lot more then recomended. That's why they have laws against it.

02-15-2010, 07:15 PM	#10
BLACK AND BLUE 67-72 Firefighter Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Yellville, Ar, USA Posts: 1,943	Re: Ever seen a brake drum do this before? I'd almost bet that it has been turned below minimum specs, I have see several of them break like that!! __________________ '72 Chevy SWB 350 Auto '67 GMC LWB 350 4 speed '70 Chevy 4x4 Stepside 350 Auto Yellville, Ar. USA

02-15-2010, 07:46 PM	#11
jeffspower Well, Whoop-dee-do! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Easton, Mo. pop.- me & scarcely a few others Posts: 2,302	Re: Ever seen a brake drum do this before? Yep, too thin and it popped. Time to check them all for diameter... to the bottom of the worn grooves. __________________ '68 GMC shortbox 4x4 350/SM465/T221- bought it in '83 SOLD '72 K20 500 Cad/TH400/NP205 SOLD '92 Chevy 2500 6.5 mech TD 4L80E crusty daily driver '72 Monte Carlo... sweet low mile toy '11 Dodge Challenger IE 392 6spd... midlife car

02-15-2010, 07:54 PM	#12
too much stuff Roadtrip! Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Grand Rapids MN Posts: 13,787	Re: Ever seen a brake drum do this before? I wonder if it was ever turned? Still has the original rivits it looks like. I suppose it could be turned with the hub still on there. Either way, time for new or a disc upgrade. __________________ 67 gmc custom lwb dakota truck. Sold...And bought back 69 swb 4x4 project (in progress) 70 c-10 lwb texas truck 70 4x4/BB/bkts/posi/tach(retired) 70 swb (wifes) 70 jimmy camper 71 K-5 factory 2wd 71 cheyenne 4x4/tach/posi/ plow rig 71 Cheyenne20 BB, buckets, tach, tilt, 4 speed 72 jimmy CST wyoming rig 72 jimmy Colorado rig 72 lifted texas 4x4 3/4 ton burb 65 fury conv. 383/auto 65 chrysler 300 "L" 413 auto

02-15-2010, 08:18 PM	#13
68 Stepside huh? Join Date: May 2000 Location: Washington, Illinois Posts: 5,690	Re: Ever seen a brake drum do this before? Never seen one crack like that, but have heard of it. It does remind me of a funny story though.... I was a Jr. in high school, and wanted to drive my friends 68 Chevelle to prom. It was kinda rough, re-skinned quarters not done well, medium blue metallic with a white top and interior, 307/powerglide...nothing special, but I liked it anyway. He told me it was no problem for me to take it to prom. Awesome. I was driving it home (across a tiny town, maybe 10 blocks) and realized pretty quickly it'd barely stop. Made this awful noise when applying the brakes too. My friend failed to see the problem The day after prom I helped his Dad tear into the car. When we pulled the right front wheel off, the drum was in two pieces, due to the shoe being worn to nothing and literally cutting through the edge of the drum!!! Thanks for bringing that memory up for me, still cracks me up that my buddy didn't realize there was anything wrong __________________ Someday when I'm lonely, Wishing you weren't so far away, Then I will remember Things we said today. RIP El Jay

02-16-2010, 10:44 PM	#18
tumbleweed68 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Colo, Iowa Posts: 41	Re: Ever seen a brake drum do this before? the front disk brake thing isn't to bad if you want to get a little greasy. You can get spindles, rotors, calipers from a junk yard pretty cheap. I am putting the whole front suspension out of an 80 chevy half ton in mine. Not as bad of a job as i thought really. But on the other hand, I can respect a man wanting to keep it simple!! Just keep the wheels rollin, or in your case, StOPPIN!! LOL

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