Low Quality Brake Drums

[Mike Ellis]

Does anybody know of a source for high quality brake drums for 2nd Gen trucks?

Been trying to get my rear drum brakes refurbished, but I am having great difficulty with the quality of the drums that my local shop has sourced. They are pretty sad Chinese junk. In the last week I have tried 3 sets. First set they put on was out of round and produced such violent chattering and bucking on brake application, that I never made it out of town for a highway test. 2nd set produced smooth braking, but was out of balance and made the truck buck violently starting at 45 mph and worsening with increasing speed -- I'm talking violent shaking, near Death Wobble scale.

Set #3 is balanced a bit better, and does not start shaking the truck until above 65 mph. But like the first set they are out of round and produce noticeable chatter / bucking on brake application (better than 1st set, but still way unacceptable).

The drums are terrible quality Chinese castings, with lots of machining tool chatter marks and a general appearance of an ashtray from Harbor Freight. It appears the manufacturer attempted to "balance" them by drilling shallow divots in the rim to remove a fraction of an ounce of material. Machining quality in general looks like it was done by a blind kid with a bent lathe, even the lug holes are non-uniform. The only markings in the 3 sets of drums are "CHINA" and one of 2 different part numbers: Either a ZH17 or XZH25. Haven't been able to find out any details about the manufacturer yet.

 

[Wayne M.]

I haven’t had bad luck with brake parts in a while. I’ve been using either high line Wagner, Centric, or OE replacement.
Staying tuned to hear what brand your stuff is.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Go to a junk yard!!!

 

[Wayne M.]

Go to a junk yard!!!

That drum is like hens teeth around here!

 

[Joe Mc]

Mike, your signature shows a "2006 3500", but since you posted in the 2nd gen forum and are looking for drums I'll look at drums for earlier than 2001...
For an 01 2500 https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/NDA4401753?keywordInput=rear+brake+drum
For an 01 3500 https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/NDA...rake+Drum+-+Rear&keywordInput=rear+brake+drum

Looks as if a rear drum for a 99 2500 has a different part number than an 01? So, you should search for your specific year etc.

Now, in the past I've had similar issues with aftermarket drums as have you and tried:
1-getting the OEM ones cut, made sure brake plate to brake shoe contact areas were flat=without wear groves "and" anti-siezed the contact areas, still hopped.
2-getting new, still hopped.
3-getting new cut, still hopped.
4-fitting the new shoes to the drums (bending shoes to perfectly fit the drum and even sanding down the ends of the material at an angle to help stop chatter).
I gave up on rear drums, too much hassle, and converted to rear disc set up for $700. This was in around 03.

Good luck finding a true set of drums - really wish you luck.

 

[BigPapa]

A previous post by Mike says he still has his ‘97 3500.

RockAuto lists Raybestos and Bendix but, I can’t find where they’re manufactured.

 

[Mike Ellis]

Yes it is for my old '97 3500 club cab 2wd. Love the old beast but this brake episode has just whipped me like a red-headed stepchild.

Smeared into the drum castings (which look like a poor grade of concrete mixed with kitty litter) I see "80022". This appears to be the "standard" aftermarket drum part number that pops up at lots of different websites. Not sure who makes it, but I suspect it is that blind guy that was David Carradine's Shaolin master in the old "Kung Fu" TV show from the 70s.

That rear disc brake conversion might be the best solution. I have never really looked into doing it before, guess I have some reading to do.

 

[Mike Ellis]

Also forgot to mention, verified the problem is in the rear with the "emergency brake trick".

 

[TFucili]

I was just browsing the OEM parts list, and they show 11x2, 13x2.5, and 13x3.5 brakes.

 

[BigPapa]

The 11x2’s for the gasser 9.25” Chrysler rear axle, the 13x2.5’s are for the 2500, and the 13x3.5’s are for the 3500.

 

[Wayne M.]

The 11x2’s for the gasser 9.25” Chrysler rear axle, the 13x2.5’s are for the 2500, and the 13x3.5’s are for the 3500.

I guess that’s the GM style brakes with the rod adjuster, and not the 12”bendix, with the cable adjuster, right?

If a disc brake conversion is in the budget, I would vote for that.

 

[TFucili]

The 11x2’s for the gasser 9.25” Chrysler rear axle, the 13x2.5’s are for the 2500, and the 13x3.5’s are for the 3500.

Makes sense. I had selected 3500 and Cummins, but I guess it doesn't filter out stuff that does not apply.

 

[Cummins12V98]

That drum is like hens teeth around here!

BUMMER, I have scrapped three sets!

 

[Cummins12V98]

Yes it is for my old '97 3500 club cab 2wd. Love the old beast but this brake episode has just whipped me like a red-headed stepchild.

Smeared into the drum castings (which look like a poor grade of concrete mixed with kitty litter) I see "80022". This appears to be the "standard" aftermarket drum part number that pops up at lots of different websites. Not sure who makes it, but I suspect it is that blind guy that was David Carradine's Shaolin master in the old "Kung Fu" TV show from the 70s.

That rear disc brake conversion might be the best solution. I have never really looked into doing it before, guess I have some reading to do.

I have done the EGR kit but honestly I would look for a 01-02 rear axle with disks.

 

[Joe Mc]

Big Poppa thanks I (duh) missed the reference to his old '97 club. Mike, after doing the conversion to rear disc, which was a decent and not too expensive kit (I think I got it from "Blackbirds Customs" But not 100% sure), if I had to do it over I'd look to see if I could source stock parts to convert, but I think there's a difference in the axle tube ends for the 01.5 and up rear disc set up that wouldn't permit use of stock parts to do the conversion. Not totally sure here but I'm guessing someone out there knows for sure and if they're watching will reply.

God I love this site!

 

[Bill Lins]

honestly I would look for a 01-02 rear axle with disks.

Is that a Dana or an AAM?

 

[dieselshadow]

Those years would be a Dana axle.

 

[Joe Mc]

OMG I just noticed this Bill
"Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals, dying of nothing."

Too funny

 

[BigPapa]

I looked for a rear disc axle before rebuilding mine. All I found were at least $850, several over $1100. Then you'd have to go through it to make sure bearings and gears are good. If not, even more $$$.

 

[AHutson]

I would vote for giving a set from Napa a shot. Replaced both rear drums on my 2001 since one had a small chunk broke out of it, didn't have any issues with them at all. Worked great. Also got new shoes at the time as well.