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More crappy parts...this time from Argentina!

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YankeeTR

YankeeTR

Luke Skywalker
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Ok...so this isn't about TR stuff but it still applies.

Last fall I bought an '87 Chebby 1/2 ton to replace the F-150 I sold to get $$$ for my pellet stove... long story. Anyway it's a rusty, one owner ride witha perfect interior and the air, cruise and analog clock actually work...go figure. It's going to be my parts hauler/swap meet/scrap haulin' truck.

But, before I do any serious work with it, I have to address a few issues such as NO REAR BRAKES. the former owner, RIP, never ever washed this thing and the undercarriage shows it...the rear brake line is rusted thru (as well as one fuel line...dual tanks)...and had actually been patched once before. And the fins on one drum were actually rusted off...HD road salt I'd say. So I go to the local parts stores (NAPA and Federated) and order new everything for the rear brakes including the rubber hose and drums. The stuff comes in and the drums are made in Argentina (Federated)... plus the brake hose and a fuel filter are Chinese (NAPA).

So this week I get a break in my trucking routine and go to work on the brakes. I get the thing on my lift and get the left side done and go to slide the drum on and IT DOESN'T FIT! It's machined too small! WTF? AND, while the original GM drums and one and zero balance weights on these have THREE and SIX respectively. Plus they weigh a ton more than the old ones...I guess the scrap Fiat 500's these things are made out of were pretty heavy...

So now it's at the parts house getting .030 taken out of it for a second try at fitting.

This whole thing really has me buzzed since my son works at a foundry here in town that makes millions of drums and rotors every year for OEM and aftermarket suppliers...and mine are from Juan Peron's home town..

Film at 11:00...
 
Sorry to hijack, but I just couldn't resist:

<span style="font-style: italic">"... I have to address a few issues such as NO REAR BRAKES. the former owner, RIP ..."</span>

T.
 
And you thought LBC's were fum...............


Tinkerman
 
Not to insult you, but are you certain you have the adjustors backed off?

Most of the parts houses near me have at least three options for hard brake parts; a Chinese option, A Raybestos or Wagner listing and an OEM part (which is always the most expensive).

I don't use NAPA, I always find a real auto parts store. The kind with a used piston for an ashtray.
 
Scott_Hower said:
Not to insult you, but are you certain you have the adjustors backed off?

Most of the parts houses near me have at least three options for hard brake parts; a Chinese option, A Raybestos or Wagner listing and an OEM part (which is always the most expensive).

I don't use NAPA, I always find a real auto parts store. The kind with a used piston for an ashtray.
Click to expand...

Yep...the adjuster (new...Chinese) is backed off. In 45 years of doing brakes I've never run across this. We used to buy oversize shoes back in the dark ages and fit the shoes to the drums after we turned them down. But you can't buy off the shelf OD shoes today much less find a shop that arcs the shoes to fit.

Our NAPA store here IS the real one...locally owned and they stock more stuff than anybody. I got an off-the-shelf point set last year for my '49 Plymouth.

But, now that you mention it, I'm going to check the old adjuster to the new one to compare the size...never thought about that.
 
Had a very similar happening on my 88 Dodge D 150,bought all new parts,wheel cyl,mounting kit,drums,shoes and adjusters.Assembled one side and drum would not go on.After some serious verbal abuse of a certain country(countries) as i'm not too sure where all this stuff comes from,I did some measuring. Shoes looked identical,adjusters were same length that left the wheel cyl. Yup fully collapsed they were about .040 longer than the ones i took out.
I filed the top and bottom notch were the shoes fit the adjuster and wheel cyl.

Shoe fit in the drum was perfect,no rocking when laid inside the drum.It added about an hour to the normal brake job and a bunch of aggravation..
Miss the day's where you bought a part and it fit.
 
"I don't use NAPA, I always find a real auto parts store. The kind with a used piston for an ashtray."

At least in my neck of the wood NAPA is a cut above the other chain shops, they have books with parts specs and pictures, so if you are looking for something that fits but isn't the OEM, like a radiator hose or seal or whatever part you can have a fighting chance of finding it, unlike most of the other chain stores which can only look things up by make and model when you go 60s British Sportscar on them they go, "our computer doesn't list anything for that car"

Unfortunately the "real" parts places with a used piston for an ashtray are disappearing, but there are certainly a few around.
 
I thought they only did coffee beans. If you hit the brakes and smell fresh roast....
 
glemon said:
At least in my neck of the wood NAPA is a cut above the other chain shops,
Click to expand...
NAPA is basically a franchise; quality of service (and to a large extent of parts) is up to the individual store owner.
For example, there are several of them in my area, but only one carries genuine Speedi-sleeves by Chicago Rawhide (now SKF). The others only carry the imitations from Fel-Pro, which are not available in as many sizes (including of course the size I wanted). The first store also had a belt to fit my TRactor motor on the shelf, while it took the other store over a week to get one. Kinda got the impression they didn't appreciate my business either, so maybe that's why it was so slow (and not there when promised).

But my favorite store (even though they don't carry CR Speedi-sleeves) is an independant. They don't have a lot of TR stuff on the shelves, but they usually have what I need for other cars and can get the TR stuff usually in a couple of days. Also really good at getting my stuff rebuilt/relined at reasonable prices, eg brake shoes for a Triumph Sports 6 were under $30 and about 3 days turnaround.

And they fit perfectly (though I sold the car before finding out how well they worked).
 
Or, you could get, "Triumph, who makes that."

I went to the Zone for front pads for the 2003 F150, gave all the info, and guess what, wrong ones!

Wayne
 
Compare the diamters of the old drum and new drum. Your problem may be in the adjuster instead (or the shoes). I ordered rear drums for my Nissan truck off eBay a while back it was the same as you. Too dang small. They took them back, but i got screwed out of $38 shipping and maybe even a restocking fee because of their screw up. My ebay usage has gone waaaaayyyy down.
 
...jayzus....pinch off the line and braze it closed,take back the crappy parts, save some money. Next time yer at the local Cruz-in stomp on the brakes and the gas at the same time, thats what fun is all about.
 
BOXoROCKS said:
...jayzus....pinch off the line and braze it closed,take back the crappy parts, save some money. Next time yer at the local Cruz-in stomp on the brakes and the gas at the same time, thats what fun is all about.
Click to expand...
It's a <span style="font-style: italic">305 </span>...I don't think it <span style="font-style: italic">will </span> spin the tires!
 
My, my, my!!

We spent the weekend at our favorite beach resort.
We even got our favorite room which had been 100%
redecorated with new furniture, TV, sinks and new
floor tiles, etc.

Without exception, every single item in the room was
stamped "made in China".

We were really happy to purchase a beautiful, hand made
from local wood, garlic grinder (pilon) from the craftsman
who lathed it! Didn't even ask him the price.
Forked over $40 and got some change back.

d
 
Tinster said:
My, my, my!!

We spent the weekend at our favorite beach resort.
We even got our favorite room which had been 100%
redecorated with new furniture, TV, sinks and new
floor tiles, etc.

Without exception, every single item in the room was
stamped "made in China".

We were really happy to purchase a beautiful, hand made
from local wood, garlic grinder (pilon) from the craftsman
who lathed it! Didn't even ask him the price.
Forked over $40 and got some change back.

d
Click to expand...
China now has over 60% of the furniture market here in the states...
 
"100% redecorated with new furniture, TV, sinks and new
floor tiles, etc."

Did you carefully scrutinize those floor tiles. I am sure they did not receive your QC seal of approval!
:lol:
 
I was up in Oregon,& needed new spark plug wires.
I found them at a major chain- bought them,put them on
in the parking lot.
I got my hand greasy.When I asked if I could use
the restroom ( I planned on cleaning up any messes I made),
was told - "Employees only".
I'll never set foot in that store again!

- Doug
 
angelfj said:
"100% redecorated with new furniture, TV, sinks and new
floor tiles, etc."

Did you carefully scrutinize those floor tiles. I am sure they did not receive your QC seal of approval!
:lol:
Click to expand...

Yo Frank,

Our floor tiles still come mostly from Alicante, Spain and Brasil.
I'm fine with that.

As an aside: Because fuel is now so darned expensive, if I need a small bit,
"made in China" of less than $5.00, I'm now buying two because for sure
one will be defective.

So I end up paying $10. for junk bits that used to be quality made in America
and probably sold for $7.00

Times have changed, pard. Times have changed.

d
 
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