Re: What to do with overheated drums?

Jul 14, 2003 1 Replies

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I would turn the drums to remove the burn spots.

when you adjust the rears, you want just a little bit of drag..

I installed brand new Raybestos drums on my Ford Windstar 96 too tight
> so drums got overheated. I noticed discoloration on perimeter of drums
> (light brown color) but on other I can see two bluish spots on drum
> (seems that this one got more abused).
>
> I have driven less than 100 miles and I readjusted brake shoes
> spacing, so they do not touch drums as badly as before. The brake
> shoes still touch drums but drums rotate easily when I rotate drums
> (with wheel is rotating even more easily because diameter gets bigger
> so does the momentum).
>
> The questions are:
> 1. What do I need to do with these drums (don't want to turn them
> unless it is necessary).
> 2. Any tips, hints on how to adjust brake shoe spacing?
>
> Thanks for help.
>
> Gracjan

I think, but could be wrong about this... that most drums are made of cast iron (Fe is the base element but many properties are quite different than steel). I wouldn't worry about changing them by slightly overheating them some. Get them turned or replaced if you're really worried about it or if you feel vibration in the pedal or rear end of the vehicle on braking.

As to how much drag... if you're not pressing the pedal you'd probably want them adjusted so that... with the wheel up in the air you hear some grinding as it spins but you don't feel any drag... if you spin it and then let go it should spin for a lot of turns. If you can feel the resistance of the brakes then it's too tight.

As for heat... they shouldn't get hot if you take it up and down your driveway once, but if they don't get hot during extended city driving they're probably not doing anything.

Good luck

Re: What to do with overheated drums?

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