Brake drum wear - replace or machine or reline

[Brucegirvan]

Eddie (1930 7hp) is need of braking improvement.

One rear drum is showing signs of waviness on the drum braking surface - this could be a simple skim back to remove the high spots.
The other drum is more complex, because the brake lever that connects to the brake rod and hence drives the shoe drive mechanism is "over centre" and hence not effective. It appears that this drum is significantly more worn. Options as I see it are:

1 - Insert larger diameter shoes and brake liner

2 - New drum

3 - Skim hub and reline, machine to finish

4 - Are there other options?

Ideal world = Option 2 - new drum. Do they even exist? If they do, then I am thinking a pair of new drums. At least that way the braking efficiency should be the same left and right side of the car and about as good as you can get for this set-up
Do you have any advice on option 3? I have heard of a company in Cardiff that relines and machines drums and will rebuild or reline brake shoes. Any companies closer to Mid-Sussex that you can advise me of?
Option 1 does not overly appeal because there will be significantly different braking performance left and right side of the car. Am I being overly sensitive here?


Any help greatfully received.


Regards and happy Jowetteering

[AmilcarJohn]

Are the front and rear brake drums the same? If so, why not buy the axle + two brake drums advertised on this site? Otherwise, why not try contacting John Box, Mike Koch-Osbourne, Jowett Car Spares etc to see if a brake drum is available second-hand? Or place an ad in the Jowetteer. It is a lot easier to do a bit of phone-calling than start machining and lining brake drums. If you do go down the route of casting new brake drums, there is a discussion on this topic on the VSCC forum at the moment, prompted by a pal of mine rebuilding an Edwardian Sunbeam. It doesn't sound trivial. Good luck! John

[Brucegirvan]

Thank you for your reply, John. I like your thinking.

Happy Jowetteering.