Springs on outside of front brake drums???? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

northerngmc · 05-20-2007, 06:40 PM

I am in the process of taking the front drums off of my 69 GMC to check the brakes before putting it on the road.

On the outside on the drums there is a spring that goes all the way around the outside of the drum. Is this factory as I cannot find any mentioned of it in my service manual?

What purpose would it serve?

Any hints to getting the drums off? I have loosened off the shoes and there does not seem to be a ridge on the drums. I am currently soaking where the hub meets the drum and banging the drum with a 3 lb BFH.

Evans · 05-20-2007, 06:48 PM

I had my front wheels off today for the first time and mine has the springs too....Pretty sure they're factory....I also think the drums are riveted to the hub ... meaning you'll have to pull the hub and drum off together or grind off the heads off the rivets....Hopefully one of the Old Timers has the answers....

71 super · 05-20-2007, 06:50 PM

Springs are original. They were put there to help the drums maintain shape/ chatter etc. They can be a pain to get off sometimes- drums not springs- soak hem in good penetrant and use a ball peen or other hammer to tap/rap around the perimeter, sometimes dust and crud builds up and they can be a pain.

Evans · 05-20-2007, 07:06 PM

What are the three heads that are on the face of my drums then ??? There is 3 of them in between the lugs ...

northerngmc · 05-20-2007, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evans

I also think the drums are riveted to the hub ... meaning you'll have to pull the hub and drum off together....

Yes that is the answer. Pulled the hub and everything came off smoothly.

Thanks....

northerngmc · 05-20-2007, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evans

What are the three heads that are on the face of my drums then ??? There is 3 of them in between the lugs ...

From my experience in the last five minutes I would say RIVETS!

Thanks again....

Evans · 05-20-2007, 07:08 PM

So they are riveted then ?? Never mind you answered already.. Thank you for being the guinea pig !!!

northerngmc · 05-20-2007, 07:11 PM

Left front drum and hub are laying on the shop floor.......

Time to go in the house for dinner.....

Longhorn Man · 05-20-2007, 07:18 PM

that spring deal was the very first question i posted on here years ago.
Not that that matters.

They helped with cooling, marginally, and also with harmonics too, they helped get rid of a slight ringing that was noticed by very few.
The replacement drums that you'll get today don't have provisions for the spring, nor to adjust the shoes up either.

nplocoman · 05-20-2007, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evans

I had my front wheels off today for the first time and mine has the springs too....Pretty sure they're factory....I also think the drums are riveted to the hub ... meaning you'll have to pull the hub and drum off together or grind off the heads off the rivets....Hopefully one of the Old Timers has the answers....

Evans has the answer, you will have to take the front wheel bearings and hub with the drum. If you want to put new drums on, grind the rivet heads off
to remove the hub from the drum.

05-20-2007, 06:40 PM	#1
northerngmc Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Whitehorse YK Canada Posts: 2,651	Springs on outside of front brake drums???? I am in the process of taking the front drums off of my 69 GMC to check the brakes before putting it on the road. On the outside on the drums there is a spring that goes all the way around the outside of the drum. Is this factory as I cannot find any mentioned of it in my service manual? What purpose would it serve? Any hints to getting the drums off? I have loosened off the shoes and there does not seem to be a ridge on the drums. I am currently soaking where the hub meets the drum and banging the drum with a 3 lb BFH. __________________ Blaine 59 GMC 9314 a.k.a. Whoopee 68 C20 50th Anniversary a.k.a. The Rat http://www.flickr.com/photos/northerngmc/ http://www.members.tripod.com/P-wee/index_032.htm 1.61803 is one H of a lot better than 3.14159, no really it is!

05-20-2007, 06:48 PM	#2
Evans Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Dallastown , Pa Posts: 261	Re: Springs on outside of front brake drums???? I had my front wheels off today for the first time and mine has the springs too....Pretty sure they're factory....I also think the drums are riveted to the hub ... meaning you'll have to pull the hub and drum off together or grind off the heads off the rivets....Hopefully one of the Old Timers has the answers.... Last edited by Evans; 05-20-2007 at 06:50 PM.

05-20-2007, 06:50 PM	#3
71 super Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Canton North carolina Posts: 3,079	Re: Springs on outside of front brake drums???? Springs are original. They were put there to help the drums maintain shape/ chatter etc. They can be a pain to get off sometimes- drums not springs- soak hem in good penetrant and use a ball peen or other hammer to tap/rap around the perimeter, sometimes dust and crud builds up and they can be a pain.

05-20-2007, 07:06 PM	#4
Evans Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Dallastown , Pa Posts: 261	Re: Springs on outside of front brake drums???? What are the three heads that are on the face of my drums then ??? There is 3 of them in between the lugs ...

05-20-2007, 07:08 PM	#7
Evans Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Dallastown , Pa Posts: 261	Re: Springs on outside of front brake drums???? So they are riveted then ?? Never mind you answered already.. Thank you for being the guinea pig !!! Last edited by Evans; 05-20-2007 at 07:09 PM.

05-20-2007, 07:11 PM	#8
northerngmc Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Whitehorse YK Canada Posts: 2,651	Re: Springs on outside of front brake drums???? Left front drum and hub are laying on the shop floor....... Time to go in the house for dinner..... __________________ Blaine 59 GMC 9314 a.k.a. Whoopee 68 C20 50th Anniversary a.k.a. The Rat http://www.flickr.com/photos/northerngmc/ http://www.members.tripod.com/P-wee/index_032.htm 1.61803 is one H of a lot better than 3.14159, no really it is!

05-20-2007, 07:18 PM	#9
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Re: Springs on outside of front brake drums???? that spring deal was the very first question i posted on here years ago. Not that that matters. They helped with cooling, marginally, and also with harmonics too, they helped get rid of a slight ringing that was noticed by very few. The replacement drums that you'll get today don't have provisions for the spring, nor to adjust the shoes up either.



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