Front brake drums

[GSDavid]

What's the best source for front brake drums?? 
I've called Discount Brakes and Parts train and I get someone who speaks something other than english as their primary language.  They are ready to write up the order without asking if my brakes are 12" diameter and 4" deep or 11 1/2" diameter and 3 1/2" deep.  They don't know anything about the hub that goes on the drum and houses the outer wheel bearing either.
I don't want to get my parts from two or three places and I don't want to order through someone who is clueless.  I would like to get drums, hub, bearings and studs in one spot.   
I would also like to find used drums if I can.
Going to end up with disc brakes as the car evolves anyway.

[Brian]

The hub and drum are all one piece cast together.  I have never seen drums sold without the studs in them, but that doesn't mean it isn't possible.   Keep in mind that the 64 and 65 used one style front drum, and the 66-67 used another.  You can put the newer style on the 65 and it works fine, but it looks completely different.  There was only one size front brakes on the 64-67 A-body Buicks, so there shouldn't be any choices.  Only variation is the larger wheel cylinders for the GS compared to the regular Skylark.  All of the 64-67 Buick Abodies came with finned front drums, regardless of what you may read in some of the old litterature floating around out there.  The Chevys didn't have finned drums.   

[GSDavid]

Another front drum question.  Will the appoximatly 11 1/2" drums and the appoximatly 12" drums interchange if you swap both of them, or would their be other parts that need to swap to make one work where another came from??  The reason that I ask is I was thinking of seeing about buying a 64 pars car that I've gotten a pair of seats and a mint dash pad from and I don't know for sure what the brakes on it are.  The car is about a three hour drive from me and if I go back down there I will be renting a trailer when I go.  Gas and trailer are going to be near $200 on the round trip.  I figure that if I can get the car cheap I can find more stuff to use on it.  I can use it to set up a 425 and tranny with mounts prior to tearing my car down also. Salvage whatever I can after that.

[Brian]

64 Skylark/Special brake drums and shoes front and rear are identical to the ones on a 65 GS and a 65 regular Skylark/Special.
  The only variation on that is the wagons--they had wider rear shoes and drums (same width shoes as the front brakes). 

[GSDavid]

Every source of brake drums lists two sizes for the front.  They either list them as a little over 11  1/2" or just over 12", or they list them as 3 1/2" deep or 4" deep.
I know that my 64 rolled into the garage with a 12" diameter drum on one side, and on the other was a drum with a wrecking yard marked  " 64 olds " drum.  I never noticed how different they were until I had them side by side in front of the car and the one marked Olds was quite a bit shorter.  Never measured the Olds one since it didn't matter.

[Brian]

I am not sure what the diameter is on the 64-67 Buick A-body drums, but there is only one size.  I don't have one off of a car and handy to measure for you.   Although the 64-65 look completely different than the 66-67 on the outside, the internal dimensions (diameter and depth of shoe contact surface) is the same and they will interchange.  Chances are the one from the Olds is the newer 66-67 style.

[nut465gs]

I just measured the original front finned brake drum on my GS. The outside diameter is 12". The aproximate outside width is 4 1/4" to 4 1/2", measuring from the inside lip to the outside wheel face.  Hope this helps.

John Egel

[WkillGS]

  The only variation on that is the wagons--they had wider rear shoes and drums (same width shoes as the front brakes). 

Brian... I haven't confirmed this.....Bob G once posted the wider wagon shoes will work with the std width drums.
The wagons DO have an offset backing plate to use wider shoes. (I have some)
I'm just not sure if we have to use wider drums with the wagon backing plates and shoes....

[GSDavid]

Interesting.  ALL of the on line sources list two sizes for the 64 Skylark brake drums.
Most sources have given me the wrong parts in the past for my 64 and for my 67 when I had it.
The smaller drum that was on my car said 64 olds on it.  I didn't even notice it was smaller until I had them sitting by each other.
I think I'll call the guy tomorrow and see if he would take a price that I'm willing to pay for his parts car.  I know I'll find use for a bunch more of the car anyway, and I plan on a nailhead and new transmission upgrade for my car eventually so the car will be very valuable for getting all the mounting right.

[Brian]

Are the measurements the online sources are giving the inside dimensions, or outside dimensions?   What is important is the inside dimensions--the surface the shoes contact. 

[kcombs]

Hi GSDavid,

How soon do you need the front brake drums? I am converting a 65 GS to disk brake around Easter and the front brakes are like new. My guess is the drums have about 150 miles on them, and maybe less. The studs are new. Biggest question would be shipping costs. I am in zip code 95453. Let me know if you are interested.

Kurt

[GSDavid]

Kurt;

I might be interested.  Just give me an update when you pull the drums.  I'm trying to get ahold of a guy with a parts car that I've gotten a few things off of in the past.  I want to see if I can get the rest of the car and just take it home.   I don't even know if the drums will be good if and when I get it home but if I don't have the car by then I would be very interested.
I am planning on a disc conversion also but it will be in the next couple of winters so I need something till then.
We can figure shipping and all when you are ready to pull your drums.

Thanks;

David

[GSDavid]

Never mind.  Sold the 64 and got a 65.  It has two matching brake drums!

[kcombs]

Well, I personally think the 65 looks a lot better than a 64, but my wife wouldn't be able to tell them apart. Glad to hear you have the vehicle you want.

[GSDavid]

Well, I personally think the 65 looks a lot better than a 64, but my wife wouldn't be able to tell them apart. Glad to hear you have the vehicle you want.

I know what you are saying.  My wife likes the 65 also, but she doesn't get me selling the 64 to get the 65.
The 64 was cool and looked tough with it's matt black paint and the 65 has 45 year old gold with worn white in the halo top.
Lucky even though she doesn't understand she just says whatever and I do my thing while she goes out and messes with the horses.