Serviceing Brake Drums

[vping]

I am prepping some brake drums for my Roadster and here are my thoughts.

They need to be cut as they have some grooves in them. They are also very rusty so I want to blast them in preparation for paint.

Do I clean them up and send to them to be cut only to find out they cannot be cut?

If I bring them there rusty and they are able to be cut, when I get them back, blast them & paint them will it throw anything off balancewise?

 

[mk2sprite]

Vince
Do they MGB drums have the min tolerence stamped into them like others? Inside or outer edge, then you/they could tell before cutting. I don't think blasting will affect anything. Did exactly that with my sprite, cut first then blasted and painted, fine.
Mike

 

[DrEntropy]

Yup. I thought there was a "MAX I.D." in the casting. Measure and you'll know. Short of that, have 'em cut (if within tol's) then blast & paint.

 

[Steve_S]

Blasting will not affect anything. Have them turned first, then clean up and paint. If you don't have a sand blaster, they are easily cleaned with an abrasive pad on a drill.

 

[vping]

I dropped them off and they are under 10". The guy thought that these were "fairly new" as I already had blasted the bulk of them clean. I told them they were 40 years old and he was surprised. They'll be ready at 10 am $7 each.

They came from the rear on the left that was sticking outta this car when I picked it up.

 

[DrEntropy]

Somehow I already knew that, Vince. Was gonna ask if the drums in question were th' ones stickin' outta the hatchless GT...

Goodonya. Spares. Life gets better.

 

[tony barnhill]

Blasting will not affect anything. Have them turned first, then clean up and paint. If you don't have a sand blaster, they are easily cleaned with an abrasive pad on a drill.

Only difference in advice is that I toss mine in the sandblaster before turning....but, if you have to pay for sandblasting, have them mic-ced first to make sure they can be turned (Doc's minimum measurement).

Oh, paint 'em flat black

 

[Steve_S]

The only reason I recommend turning before blasting is that the machine shop might scratch the new paint.

 

[tony barnhill]

True - but I blast 'em at home, have 'em turned & then paint...different strokes....

 

[vping]

Yeah, I'll get em' back tomorrow and take 'em to work on Monday. I already blasted the first one looks decent and the pitting is not that bad. The 2nd one I cleaned up but could not get it blasted today so I just check for pitting, deemed it good enough and brought it to the machinist. I really have to use a grinder and wire wheel first in order to get most of the rust off. It really makes a mess in the blaster and is supposed to used to make finished goods. Kinda PO's the workers.

 

[vping]

Doneski! Another peice to the puzzle.

 

[tony barnhill]

So, now when you take them to the shop, they can easily mic them to see if they can be turned.

 

[vping]

Dems is already turned. I dropped them off last night and first thing this morn they were ready. I just need to blast the left and them prime & paint.

 

[tony barnhill]

Oh, they are!! Pretty!!

 

[tdskip]

Where do you guys bring the drums to get them turned?

 

[vping]

I've got a small "mom & pop" type of autoparts store (beleive it or not) here in town. I've been using them for 20 years. $7 each for cutting $5 each if you buy shoes. Not sure if the larger chain stores do this.

 

[Scott_Hower]

Not sure if the larger chain stores do this.

Doubt it. Most of the kids have never seen a brake "drum". Ask them to cut one down and you'll get a blank stare.

I've got a real auto parts shop near me too; they refaced my flywheel for about $20.

 

[vping]

ooooh I wonder if my local does Flywheels?

 

[Bugeye58]

I've got a good store here, and have the run of the place. I can do all of my own stuff in the back.
Makes it nice.
Jeff

 

[vping]

I'd love to be able to do that meslef.