cross drilled brake drums

[bubba327]

Anybody have crossed-drilled brake drums?
Found a website of a shop in California that cross drills brake drums.
Yes- Brake Drums.
Supposed to remove heat and stop brake fade. Also helps the drums clean themselves of brake dust and drains water.
They discovered this racers trick years ago, But I just learned something new!
Check out the bottom article on their site ( Custom rodder 2001 )
C H Topping and Co
http://www.chtopping.com/

[markeb01]

I'd be apprehensive about using drilled drums. There are many threads on the net about the disadvantages/pros/cons of drilled rotors. Potential for cracks, accelerated pad wear, brake dust on the wheels, etc. Imagine the same issues would apply to drums as well.

[Nick's81]

I would give it a shot, sounds like a good idea hit a water spot the other day and had no brakes why not if they fail well still no brakes dought all four will fail at same time like water in drums as for brake dust wash your truck

[BMSJaX]

I know an old racer who did testing on this back in the day when he was racing. He said that they found out that the drum couldn't hold up and all the test drums at the end of the day where cracked and some even exploded while braking. Now this was for racing use which demands more than normal daily driving and this was also many yrs ago(70's or 80's) It is possible that they drilled too many holes or made the holes too big or that the material used for drums then was lower quality. So it might work well now when/if done right. I would just keep a very close eye on them and see how they hold up. I have passed on the opportunities to drill my drums because my thoughts are that if it really did work we'd see ALOT more people using them by now. But you dont hear about people running drilled drums and its not a new theory...

[MacAttack]

Neat idea - but where's the over-riding problem in drum brakes on the street?

Seems like a great deal of trouble for a problem that isn't.

[protrash64]

Originally Posted by MacAttack

Neat idea - but where's the over-riding problem in drum brakes on the street?

Seems like a great deal of trouble for a problem that isn't.

I agree with Mac and will add that there is less surface area to contact the shoe with holes drilled in the drum. Save your $$ IMO.

[bubba327]

Originally Posted by MacAttack

Neat idea - but where's the over-riding problem in drum brakes on the street?

Seems like a great deal of trouble for a problem that isn't.

I have not had any problems with Drum brakes other than fading while towing heavy trailers.
But I thought this was an interesting concept,Somebody tried something different
Ya dont know till ya try!!

[Hottrucks]

I posted about this not very long ago and everyone talked me out of them Oh and buy the way look at the price tag!!

[mbgmike]

I can't see why anyone would want to do this anymore. If you want to upgrade to a better braking system obviously the way to go is disc. Waste of money to do the drums IMO. Made sense before discs

[protrash64]

The other option is the wider drum brakes from later trucks. Change backing plates, get the wider drums and transfer all the linkage and fresh set of shoes. It's supposed to be that easy but I havent done it yet...so we know how that goes.

[MacAttack]

Originally Posted by protrash64

It's supposed to be that easy but I havent done it yet...so we know how that goes.

It's got to be easier that installing my glovebox.

[protrash64]

Originally Posted by MacAttack

It's got to be easier that installing my glovebox.

I hear ya Mac.....last time I tried to put mine in the 'burb I quit before I destroyed it!!