Lucky444 Posted December 31, 2007 Report Posted December 31, 2007 Hi all, new guy here. I'm not totally sure that this is the right place, but it looks like it. I am in need of a source for rear brake drums for a 54 Dodge Royal. The dimensions are 11" X 2" and they fit inboard of the backing plates. I've tried my best everywhere else with no luck. I also have a 51 Chevy, and it's not nearly as difficult finding parts for that car! I figure you all must know the problem and have some obscure source for some Dodge goodies. Hope you can help. Thanks in advance! Quote
Normspeed Posted December 31, 2007 Report Posted December 31, 2007 Good gosh, inboard of the backing plates? That's gotta be a rare item. Sounds like a good candidate for a late model rear end swap. One of the guys on the forum has some 53 Desoto drums but I'm not sure if they would be the right ones. Quote
Lucky444 Posted December 31, 2007 Author Report Posted December 31, 2007 Aw man, it's never a good sign when the first response you get starts off with "Goo Gawd"! Quote
Normspeed Posted December 31, 2007 Report Posted December 31, 2007 LOL. There's a salvage yard up in the Dakotas, I believe it's called Moore's Auto Salvage. Someone here may have the contact info. Quote
49roadster Posted December 31, 2007 Report Posted December 31, 2007 Something is not right here. The parts books show the same drums from '39 to '56. Quote
BobT-47P15 Posted December 31, 2007 Report Posted December 31, 2007 Hi. Welcome. You might try this place in Canada.....they specialize in Dodge parts. http://www.antiquedodgeparts.com/ Phone is 905-985-0869 in Sunderland, Ont. email: randrent@idirect.com Is that an American or Canadian car??? Where do you live?? Quote
Lucky444 Posted December 31, 2007 Author Report Posted December 31, 2007 Hey, thanks everyone. The car was bought in California and is now in Hawaii. I have a few repair receipts for the car from Missouri, but beyond that I don't know any more of it's history. I don't have any parts lists for this car either so it's all new to me. I inquired with a brake drum specialty shop and they told me that Dodge for that year had a couple different drum sizes and configurations. Could be a case of the blind leading the blind! I'll keep looking, but if anyone has anymore info...would be greatly appreciated. Mahalo. Quote
Paul Beard Posted December 31, 2007 Report Posted December 31, 2007 Is it possible to post a picture. With a photo maybe someone would be able to help. Quote
norrism1 Posted December 31, 2007 Report Posted December 31, 2007 Check for a tab or label on the rear axle. Could also be stamped in the top or pinion area. May give a clue if original or someone already swapped it out. Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted December 31, 2007 Report Posted December 31, 2007 Checking my book on the 54 Royal show difference in the lining length but makes no reference to a 10 or 11 inch diameter brake..and same specs as the Chrylser and DeSoto going back to mid 40's. My D19-D24 service manual says 11 inch brakes..unless you have the 7 passenger sedan or the limo then the car got 12 inch brakes. Length of the lining is the part you need to be matching up for your application it appears..and by my master parts list of numbers say shoes as used on the D24 in 46-47 could be the same..key word is could.as I am comparing books from two different eras by dimensions only... Quote
Lou Earle Posted December 31, 2007 Report Posted December 31, 2007 First of all - what is wrong with the old drums? Have you given any thought to having a shop clean them up by turning a bit? these drums usually have a lot of meat in them and can be turned several times. My Hollander interchange book also shows the rear drums are the same thru 54 with a 6 cyl or v8 engine- 2 inch drums. Quote
Lucky444 Posted December 31, 2007 Author Report Posted December 31, 2007 Thanks again for all the replies. The Dodge is a new purchase and was taken to an old time brake service place here in town. There seemed to be a lot of pedal free play and marginal braking power. It was the brake service center that told me that the rear drums had been replaced relatively recently with drums that were too big in diameter and that I would need to track down drums that were 11" X 2". This could also be a case of the blind leading the blind! Maybe it indeed is the shoes that need the attention. I will take a better look at everything and maybe do a quick tear down after the New Year celebrations. Unfortunately like I said, it's a new purchase for me and I really have no idea what kind of work and/or parts swapping may have occurred before I got it. I'll try to post pics to see if anyone thinks it looks proper. I'm pretty certain the rear end is original and no swap happened there. Quote
Lucky444 Posted December 31, 2007 Author Report Posted December 31, 2007 PS...Here's a pic of the car just for the heck of it , since I figured out how to download photo's onto this thread. Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted December 31, 2007 Report Posted December 31, 2007 did you by chance mesure across the drim while you had the wheel off...by looking at the pics the drum and backing paltes are factory matched setup.. Quote
Lucky444 Posted December 31, 2007 Author Report Posted December 31, 2007 did you by chance mesure across the drim while you had the wheel off...by looking at the pics the drum and backing paltes are factory matched setup.. No, unfortunately I was being a dummy when I took that wheel off and didn't measure the thing! And yes, the drums and backing plates visually appeared to be a great match. The brake shop also said that all wheel cylinders and shoes looked to be recently replaced. Can't vouch for their adjusting ability on this old setup, but they are an old timey shop like I said. They said that they adjusted out the star adjusters a bunch in the rear and were still not getting the right amount of drag on the drum. They said that when the drums start to wear down that the pistons in the wheel cylinders were in jeopardy of pushing too far out and begin leaking. This whole process has been great because I'm getting a lot of different opinions and I may be more confused now, but more determined to find out what may be the REAL issue with those brakes. Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted December 31, 2007 Report Posted December 31, 2007 The brake shop also said that all wheel cylinders and shoes looked to be recently replaced. Hey..did they physically pull your rear hubs..if that is the case and they are in decent condition..sounds like it is just time to adjust the shoes to the drum to eliminate a low pedal condition..most people have a bear of a time removing the rear hubs..count yourself lucky they were inspected by the shop and will make your adjustment job easier...do you have access to the proper tool? While it can be firmed up and made to stop the correct adjustment with the tool is the only way to ensure even wear and long life... Quote
PatS.... Posted January 1, 2008 Report Posted January 1, 2008 Is there still that big instruction manual that GTK did on the main site? I looked and can't find it. It was GREAT at explaining the what why's and hows of these brakes. Quote
Niel Hoback Posted January 1, 2008 Report Posted January 1, 2008 To quote your post; "They said that they adjusted out the star adjusters a bunch in the rear and were still not getting the right amount of drag on the drum". '54 Dodge brakes don't have star adjusters. First you have to find out what that axle is out of. Those drums don't look right either. Quote
Niel Hoback Posted January 1, 2008 Report Posted January 1, 2008 Shel, you are right about the backing plate. I didnt look at the picture before I went off there. What gets me is the brake shop told him they had adjusted the star wheels. That means even tho he has the right brakes, he has the wrong shop. Quote
49roadster Posted January 1, 2008 Report Posted January 1, 2008 I will say again, something is not right here. Quote
Lucky444 Posted January 1, 2008 Author Report Posted January 1, 2008 Whoa man, thanks you guys. I don't have access to "The Right Tool", but have seen it on the 50plymouth.com site. Maybe the "Old Timey" brake shop was not the place to go. Not sure what to think now as I have not removed those rear drums and looked at them myself yet. Will I need a special puller to get that drum off? I will be sure to check out the link for brake adjustment. I apologize I don't have any more info and have only been going off of what the shop told me. I have no idea if the drums OR the shoes are the right things on that car! The shop didn't mention anything about a major and minor adjustment so that makes me wonder. Quote
Lucky444 Posted January 1, 2008 Author Report Posted January 1, 2008 If it turns out to be a simple solution like getting the MAJOR and MINOR adjustments right, that would be great! I have no attachment to that brake shop that checked it out and was purely going on word of mouth and the fact that they have been around a long time. Could definitely be a case of "the wrong shop". Are those brake adjustment tools available for sale anywhere? I'm assuming it's pretty specialized and not easy to come by. I appreciate all the help guys! Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted January 1, 2008 Report Posted January 1, 2008 On your first post I almost wrote that you should not walk away from that brake shop..YOU SHOULD RUN!!!!!!!!! Quote
PatS.... Posted January 1, 2008 Report Posted January 1, 2008 I notice the nice new wheel studs sticking out. There should be holes there for the wheel BOLTS, no? Just shows there has been recent modifications done. (they're still shiney) Quote
Young Ed Posted January 1, 2008 Report Posted January 1, 2008 Dodges did have studs by then so I think that is ok. Still those drums look kinda funky to me Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.