Brakes: Turning Brake Drums

[JoeHall]

I recently discovered my local NAPA guy's lathe machine could not turn Stude rear drums, unless the hub was removed. He can turn them all day long, as long as its only the drum, with no hub. If unable to turn them, serviceable OEM drums are useless.

Anyone here have access to a shop that can turn OEM Stude rear drums, with hub still mounted? Maybe its just my local NAPA, but I guess most shops don't get many folks asking them to turn drums with non-removable hubs anyway.

Joe H

[Studebakercenteroforegon]

Most shops with a brake lathe have a “Volkswagen adapter arbor”. This replaces the standard arbor with one with a smaller diameter. I myself have turned Studebaker rear drums with the hub installed using the VW arbor.
I will admit that this was many years ago, so I don’t recall what Volkswagen required the smaller arbor.
I do remember I turned many Studebaker rears but never any Volkswagen drums.

[Mike Sal]

Unless they are in terrible shape, I never turn a brake drum if I don't have to. Once they get too thin, they are done forever. If they are just wavy or a couple grooves from rivets, I just let the shoes wear themselves to the shape of the drum.
Mike Sal

[BRUCESTUDE]

I use a local (not chain) auto parts store that has a machine shop, he still does 'em all!

[rusty nut garage]

it takes a machine with a 1inch arbor. I have one but your a bit far away. if you remove the hub and turn it they will use the center hole as the center, then you mount them on the hub it uses the lug studes to center. You'll have an out of round drum at this point.......dont ask me how I know that.

I recently discovered my local NAPA guy's lathe machine could not turn Stude rear drums, unless the hub was removed. He can turn them all day long, as long as its only the drum, with no hub. If unable to turn them, serviceable OEM drums are useless.

Anyone here have access to a shop that can turn OEM Stude rear drums, with hub still mounted? Maybe its just my local NAPA, but I guess most shops don't get many folks asking them to turn drums with non-removable hubs anyway.

Joe H

[TWChamp]

I made an adaptor to turn them on my Atlas lathe.

[Neal in NM]

I have the adapters but, I’m a little far away. Neal

[bensherb]

I will admit that this was many years ago, so I don’t recall what Volkswagen required the smaller arbor.
I do remember I turned many Studebaker rears but never any Volkswagen drums.

All the air cooled VW's, except the '71 up bus, have the splined rear hub cast into the drum and will require the small arbor.

[Ross]

Fully agree with Mike in post #3. Grooves and scratches are unimportant. The weight of the drum--to be able to absorb heat--is way more important than smoothness. The biggest danger with thin drums is not that they will burst but that they heat up so quickly which causes fade. I only turn them when out of round or horribly scored, and even then will leave a deep score mark rather than thin the drum unnecessarily. Oh yes, and find someone who can do it with the hubs on.

[Mike Van Veghten]

Yea...here in SoCal, an old shop just down the street did two sets of rears for me about 2 months ago.

Mike

[r1lark]

Sorta off topic, but still about rear drums for our Studes (at least the ones with Model 44 rear axles)...........

Do the non-tapered axle upgrades marketed by Phil Harris/Fairborn Studebaker allow the use of readily available 10" drums that will work with the 10" rear Studebaker brakes/backing plates? (I know that disc conversions are available, but what is available as far as drums?)

[JoeHall]

Sorta off topic, but still about rear drums for our Studes (at least the ones with Model 44 rear axles)...........

Do the non-tapered axle upgrades marketed by Phil Harris/Fairborn Studebaker allow the use of readily available 10" drums that will work with the 10" rear Studebaker brakes/backing plates? (I know that disc conversions are available, but what is available as far as drums?)

My guess would be the 10" front drum, used on miscellaneous 65-73 FoMoCo, i.e. Mustang, Comet, Fairlane, etc.. That is what I just installed on the tapered axles of the 62GT. I believe they would also fit the flanged axles. Next time I have a rear wheel off the 62GT and 63GT at same time, I will experiment to see. Not sure when that will be though.

[BILT4ME]

The O'Reilly that my son works for here locally can turn them.

However, he's the only one that knows how because I showed him how to use their machine properly........... Otherwise they never get drums in that have hubs and the newbies never know how to deal with them.

[JoeHall]

Most shops with a brake lathe have a “Volkswagen adapter arbor”. This replaces the standard arbor with one with a smaller diameter. I myself have turned Studebaker rear drums with the hub installed using the VW arbor.
I will admit that this was many years ago, so I don’t recall what Volkswagen required the smaller arbor.
I do remember I turned many Studebaker rears but never any Volkswagen drums.

I was at local NAPA yesterday, where I had tried to get the Stude drums turned. I mentioned the VW adapter would maybe work for Studebaker. NAPA is a gathering place for old timers, and folks just killing time. One of the hangarounds, who is, "Mr. VW" in these parts said he was also familiar with Studebaker drums, and the VW adapter would not work for Studebaker. Not really an issue for me anymore, since now both of our GTs have drums that slip on and off the studs like modern cars do. I just wanted to have a fresh set of OEM drums on hand, for when I next grease the rear wheel bearings on the 56J.
Thanks,
Joe H

[StudeRich]

The Machinists I have talked to, said just the opposite of what "your guy" said.