Removing brake drum rivets.. - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

chrislehr · 01-30-2010, 02:46 PM

before I pull out the grinder, I want to confirm these are the three brake drum rivets I need to grind off..

If anyone can answer quickly - I have the thing up on jackstands and really want to get this done today.

I am kind of shocked to see intact rivets.. the truck is 40 years old. Also, I have already adjusted the brakes all the way up and down, so I know the shoes are not holding it on

**john** · 01-30-2010, 02:49 PM

Yes that would be them.

fast_dev · 01-30-2010, 02:50 PM

their the ones, you may have to grind them off and knock the hub out of the drum and then grind some more to knock them out the hub

dhaymaker · 01-30-2010, 02:50 PM

Eliminating those rivets will allow you to separate the drum from the hub. They are a little harder to handle/reinstall, when separated, but you have to start somewhere!

chrislehr · 01-30-2010, 02:51 PM

Wait... reinstall?

I thought they were throw aways and not needed really.. educate me if not, cause I dont have a riveter!

dwcsr · 01-30-2010, 03:08 PM

You don't have to rivet them back on. I drill them out with a 1/4" bit almost all the way through and chisel the head off and punch out the rivet.

chrislehr · 01-30-2010, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwcsr

You don't have to rivet them back on. I drill them out with a 1/4" bit almost all the way through and chisel the head off and punch out the rivet.

I didn't think you had to - thanks for confirming. I just don't get why my 40 year old truck would have them riveted on.

Its making me wonder if my odo is 49k or 149k.

Longhorn Man · 01-30-2010, 06:13 PM

the stock trums were made properly when men were men and steel was steel. They have been known to last well over 100k.
If your originals are still good, then put them back on. The replacement ones are junk IMO.

chrislehr · 01-30-2010, 06:29 PM

I guess I should have made post #1 clearer - I was trying to check the pads. Luckily, didnt get the rivets all out before I was told to remove the axle bolt/dust cover. Doh.

chrislehr · 01-31-2010, 01:44 AM

while I have a thread going - whats the purpose of the spring coil wrapped around the drums?

shaneo2112RUSH · 01-31-2010, 02:10 AM

my guess is the springs were used to keep tention on the drum from warping when getting hot or overheated. But not shure!! some one can chime in and educate me

also when hammering the rivets out, Be careful!! i kind of got crazy with the hammer and bent the wheel hub in three places where the rivet sat and i was really shock i actualy bent the hub!! I would prefer to drill the rivet out completely

LowBow · 01-31-2010, 02:18 AM

The spring was used to quiet the harmonics. That's the only use I know for them.

Longhorn Man · 01-31-2010, 02:30 AM

I agree with the harmonics... a slight ringing can be heard if the spring is missing, some will tell you it is for cooling though.

Rooster's 67 · 01-31-2010, 03:28 AM

yup the spring around the circumference is there to dampen harmonics that could cause unwanted noises during brake application.

**mr48chev** · 01-31-2010, 03:43 AM

Some guys have to knock the rivets off so alloy wheels will seat flat on the drum but the only other reason to cut them off would be to replace the drums. By the way, drum brakes don't have "pads" they have "shoes".

mclairmo · 01-31-2010, 05:13 AM

My 68 still had the darn rivets in place and I'm sure my truck has a billion miles on it. Shocking that they last so long.

shaneo2112RUSH · 01-31-2010, 04:00 PM

As you can see the bend in the hub from hammering on the rivet after the head was grounded off, it was bent all the way around where the rivet sat!

I didn't realize it was bent after 5,000 to 10,000 miles driving on the new shoes and drums. I didn't get any vibrations at all luckly!!
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both drums still in good shape and no lip but different type! one has rivet holes and the other without, both were bought at the same time here at Chicano Zone!!

going to get rid of these and switching to front and rear disk later in my build

Longhorn Man · 01-31-2010, 07:39 PM

they also don't have the holes for adjusting the shoes up, or the lip for the spring.

dwcsr · 01-31-2010, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shaneo2112RUSH

As you can see the bend in the hub from hammering on the rivet after the head was grounded off, it was bent all the way around where the rivet sat!

This is the reason for drilling the rivets almost all the way through. When you drive them out the colapse inward and come out very easy.

01-30-2010, 02:49 PM	#2
john member #16 Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Yuba City Ca. Posts: 3,618	Re: Removing brake drum rivets.. Yes that would be them. __________________ john http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showgroups.php board vendors http://www.flickr.com/photos/1745471...7602865984234/

01-30-2010, 02:50 PM	#3
fast_dev Registered User Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Ringtown,PA Posts: 555	Re: Removing brake drum rivets.. their the ones, you may have to grind them off and knock the hub out of the drum and then grind some more to knock them out the hub __________________ 68 chevy 406 small block, budget drag racer, new best e.t 11.91 @112 67 nova numbers matching 327 4 speed 13.6 @ 102mph 70 longhorn c-30 402/4 speed 70 c-10 swb 402, muncie 4 speed 94 s-10 350/th350 3:73 posi 71 c-20 402/th400 towrig for racetruck. 72 4wd lifted on 35's 72 350/3 speed winter beater

01-30-2010, 02:50 PM	#4
dhaymaker Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Peyton, CO Posts: 448	Re: Removing brake drum rivets.. Eliminating those rivets will allow you to separate the drum from the hub. They are a little harder to handle/reinstall, when separated, but you have to start somewhere! __________________ don "The DRBMan" 2014 Audi A4 (The Wife's Daily Driver) 2017 HD Ultra (The Cruiser) 2003 HD Fatboy (The Ride) 2001 Chevy Suburban (Another back up!!) For the first time in forever, not a single 67-72 Chevy truck, Blazer, or Suburban on the property! Basically retired and getting the new Motorhome ready for some traveling. Doing a bit of work on the house getting it ready to sell! LOL!!

01-30-2010, 02:51 PM	#5
chrislehr Engine n00b Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Austin Posts: 1,031	Re: Removing brake drum rivets.. Wait... reinstall? I thought they were throw aways and not needed really.. educate me if not, cause I dont have a riveter!

01-30-2010, 03:08 PM	#6
dwcsr Hollister Road Co. Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Houston Posts: 6,134	Re: Removing brake drum rivets.. You don't have to rivet them back on. I drill them out with a 1/4" bit almost all the way through and chisel the head off and punch out the rivet.

01-30-2010, 02:46 PM	#1
chrislehr Engine n00b Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Austin Posts: 1,031	Removing brake drum rivets.. before I pull out the grinder, I want to confirm these are the three brake drum rivets I need to grind off.. If anyone can answer quickly - I have the thing up on jackstands and really want to get this done today. I am kind of shocked to see intact rivets.. the truck is 40 years old. Also, I have already adjusted the brakes all the way up and down, so I know the shoes are not holding it on Last edited by chrislehr; 01-30-2010 at 02:49 PM.

01-30-2010, 06:13 PM	#8
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Re: Removing brake drum rivets.. the stock trums were made properly when men were men and steel was steel. They have been known to last well over 100k. If your originals are still good, then put them back on. The replacement ones are junk IMO.

01-30-2010, 06:29 PM	#9
chrislehr Engine n00b Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Austin Posts: 1,031	Re: Removing brake drum rivets.. I guess I should have made post #1 clearer - I was trying to check the pads. Luckily, didnt get the rivets all out before I was told to remove the axle bolt/dust cover. Doh.

01-31-2010, 01:44 AM	#10
chrislehr Engine n00b Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Austin Posts: 1,031	Re: Removing brake drum rivets.. while I have a thread going - whats the purpose of the spring coil wrapped around the drums?

01-31-2010, 02:10 AM	#11
shaneo2112RUSH Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Pueblo,Colo Posts: 424	Re: Removing brake drum rivets.. my guess is the springs were used to keep tention on the drum from warping when getting hot or overheated. But not shure!! some one can chime in and educate me also when hammering the rivets out, Be careful!! i kind of got crazy with the hammer and bent the wheel hub in three places where the rivet sat and i was really shock i actualy bent the hub!! I would prefer to drill the rivet out completely __________________ 1968 LWB C10 "Project LADY EYE SORE" (She is my baby and sent me to the hospital 3 times for eye injuries lol) who said love hurts??

01-31-2010, 02:18 AM	#12
LowBow Self Made Hundredaire Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Tallahassee, Fl Posts: 173	Re: Removing brake drum rivets.. The spring was used to quiet the harmonics. That's the only use I know for them. __________________ '79 corvette - all original 49k car! '03 Z71 ECSB - gas hog '57 Belair 2 door hardtop. Love of my life!

01-31-2010, 02:30 AM	#13
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Re: Removing brake drum rivets.. I agree with the harmonics... a slight ringing can be heard if the spring is missing, some will tell you it is for cooling though.

01-31-2010, 03:28 AM	#14
Rooster's 67 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: DFW Posts: 765	Re: Removing brake drum rivets.. yup the spring around the circumference is there to dampen harmonics that could cause unwanted noises during brake application. __________________ The problem with America is stupidity. I'm not saying there should be a capital punishment for stupidity, but why don't we just take the safety labels off of everything and let the problem solve itself?

01-31-2010, 03:43 AM	#15
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,639	Re: Removing brake drum rivets.. Some guys have to knock the rivets off so alloy wheels will seat flat on the drum but the only other reason to cut them off would be to replace the drums. By the way, drum brakes don't have "pads" they have "shoes".

01-31-2010, 05:13 AM	#16
mclairmo Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Take Off Posts: 1,908	Re: Removing brake drum rivets.. My 68 still had the darn rivets in place and I'm sure my truck has a billion miles on it. Shocking that they last so long.



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01-31-2010, 04:00 PM	#17
shaneo2112RUSH Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Pueblo,Colo Posts: 424	Re: Removing brake drum rivets.. As you can see the bend in the hub from hammering on the rivet after the head was grounded off, it was bent all the way around where the rivet sat! I didn't realize it was bent after 5,000 to 10,000 miles driving on the new shoes and drums. I didn't get any vibrations at all luckly!! both drums still in good shape and no lip but different type! one has rivet holes and the other without, both were bought at the same time here at Chicano Zone!! going to get rid of these and switching to front and rear disk later in my build Attached Images __________________ 1968 LWB C10 "Project LADY EYE SORE" (She is my baby and sent me to the hospital 3 times for eye injuries lol) who said love hurts??

01-31-2010, 07:39 PM	#18
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Re: Removing brake drum rivets.. they also don't have the holes for adjusting the shoes up, or the lip for the spring.

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