I don't know if what I'm seeing in the new drums I've bought this year is typical, or is reflecting some sort of manufacturing change.

I've bought 3 pairs of drums (these are 11 inch). First pair (for the front wheels) was a china brand "WinHere". Put them on, car shook really badly during braking. Took them to a shop, got them turned, they say one was worse than the other. Put them back on, ok braking seems better, car is mostly smooth on the highway but I do notice some vibration at a couple different speeds (my new tires / rims have already been balanced). I have the tire shop put these new drums on their wheel balancer (Hunter Road Force). Took some arm twisting, but they did it (had never done this before). One drum needed 2.25 oz, the other needed .75 oz. Tire shop put the sticky tick-tak weights on them. Here's the thing - these drums originally had no balance weights. New drums, no weights. I take the sticky weights off and weld some metal hunks to them. Drums are great on the highway, no vibration, but brake pulsing is back (I think it was coming back before this). I think it's the same drum that needed a lot of turning the first time. I take that drum off, put on one of my original drums (it has weights, all my original drums have weights). Car braking is great, highway is great.

I buy 2 new pairs of drums from rock. Raybestos. One pair for the front, one for the rear. I get them. NONE OF THEM HAVE ANY BALANCE WEIGHTS. I'm going to have to shell out probably $100 a pair to have these drums checked (put on a lathe) because I don't necessarily trust them. And then I'm going to have to pay another maybe $25 each to have them checked for balance at the tire shop - if they remember me and I convince them to do it.

Is it me? Am I wrong to think that there's no way that drums come off the production line perfectly balanced, needing no weights? These are 11 inch, not 9 or 10 inch drums. They are heavy.

Is this a new thing for drums today, this year? Or would I have had this exact same experience 5, 10 years ago?

My feeling is that old car parts quality is going down the drain, year by year. After all that work, and probably more messing around to come, I would recommend switching your car to disc brakes. Doctordiff.com has some nice offerings. I'm happy to talk disc upgrades if you have questions. I have 5 old Mopars with Slant 6s, and all of them now have 4 whl disc brakes with easily source-able parts.

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

Some folks will avoid new parts for the old Drum Systems when possible.

Try Craig mobile parts in NY.

He may talk your ear off, but he has good parts to sell.

https://www.forcbodiesonly.com/mopar-fo ... rts.54251/


Greg

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http://www.youtube.com/hyperpack