5 lug drums

[SRVBLUES64]

Im looking for 5 lug brake drums for my 66 chevy truck Ive done the drum conversion already

[Captainfab]

I'm confused.....you say you have already done the drum conversion, but you are looking for 5 lug drums.

[protrash64]

Maybe he means the front disc conversion, Cap'n. I just got 6-lug drums from Autozone when I redid my brakes. No reason they shouldnt have 5-lug from 70-72 trucks also.

[94tx]

Can you just swap the 70-72 drums for the six lugs? I've been considering doing front disc brakes but wasn't sure what the easiest way to go to get the back to 5 lug, and if this is the case thank you!

[SRVBLUES64]

sorry for the confusion I have a 5 lug disc conversion up front and a 5 lug drum conversion in the back I use to have a 6 lug I need to find 5 lug drums for the rear

[lolife99]

Use 71-72 brake drums on your newly converted rearend.

[jocko]

Originally Posted by SRVBLUES64

sorry for the confusion I have a 5 lug disc conversion up front and a 5 lug drum conversion in the back I use to have a 6 lug I need to find 5 lug drums for the rear

so, sounds like you're asking how to convert the rear, inexpensively. Can't just slap 5 lug drums on 6 lug axles, but this place sells an axle swap kit that includes the basics of what you need to make the conversion.

http://www.classicperform.com/Store/.../6369RAC-5.htm It does NOT include the drums, of course (figures) but it is a soruce to get what you need, axles.

I'm not sure if there is a junkyard combo of axles/drums that would work - but if you go that route, probably just easiest to get a whole 5 lug rear end.

Good luck.

OK, Wait - I just re-read your post - you say "you have a 5 lug drum conversion in the back and need 5 lug drums"?? I guess I'm not seeing the problem - can't you stroll into any auto parts store and buy brake drums for the appropriate axles you've installed? Sorry for the confusion, I misread the post initially - but now that I've re-read, seems all you're missing is rear drums and they should be available at any auto parts store i would think.

[Captainfab]

Actually the rear drums from '71 to about '74-5 are the same.

If you had your original 6 lug axles plugged and drilled to 5x5, you will also need to have the center register turned down from 3.5" to about 3.06" If you have aftermarket 5x5 conversion axles, then you just need the above mentioned drums.

[kieth]

I drilled the hubs on my gmc and converted it from 6 lug to 5. The only problem I had was the drums that I ended up had no adjuster slot in the drum. I had to make a adjuster slot on the back of my 66 backing plate. Here are pictures......

http://kieth.smugmug.com/Trucks/66-G...30244686_ZfxoQ


guess I was wrong the pictures show the new 5 lug drums but do not show the detail on the slot for the adjuster tool to go in. oh well you will see what I mean when you start to adjust the brakes. Kieth

[Rannos]

Does the difference in braking surface not matter? The 60's models have 2.40 braking surface and width of drum is 3.02 inches where as the 5lug 71-72 drums are 2.92 braking surface and 3.80 drum width. Seems like a rather big difference and am worried the 5lug drum will rub. I just want to make sure this is what I need before I order drums to match my new hardened axles.

[Captainfab]

I don't know where you are getting your info. but the '71-'72 should have 2" wide drums/shoes just like the '70 and earlier. In fact the 2" wide shoes were used up thru about '74-'75.

Originally Posted by Rannos

Does the difference in braking surface not matter? The 60's models have 2.40 braking surface and width of drum is 3.02 inches where as the 5lug 71-72 drums are 2.92 braking surface and 3.80 drum width. Seems like a rather big difference and am worried the 5lug drum will rub. I just want to make sure this is what I need before I order drums to match my new hardened axles.

[Rannos]

I go the info form 2 different local auto supplies and Raybestos' website for direct replacement OEM drums for those year models. I was just compairing what if anything i would need to change on my brakes when i noticed the difference in the width of the drums. Both use an 11X2 shoes so I wasnt sure if the width would cause a problem was hoping someone here had done this conversion and tell me.

[Captainfab]

I have not done this conversion myself, but those drums are what most guys use when converting to the 5x5 wheel bolt patterm. They both use the 11" x 2" shoes, so I don't know why there would be a difference in the braking area, or in the width of the drums.

[kieth]

Just as an aside, we did have to turn the axle hubs down to allow the 70's 2" wide 5 lug drums to work on the rear of my 66 gmc (12 bolt rear end)

Kieth

Here is a shot of the modified axle:

http://kieth.smugmug.com/Trucks/66-G...86_ZfxoQ-X2-LB

Here is the brake drum on the hub:

http://kieth.smugmug.com/Trucks/66-G...651_mRnu3-A-LB

these drums were for a 1970 2" brake shoes....

[Captainfab]

Thanks for mentioning that Kieth. That is something that will have to be done when plugging and re-drilling stock 6 lug axles. The 6 lug axles have a hub register diameter of aprox 3.5" whereas the 5 lug axles have a 3.06" diameter hub register.

Originally Posted by kieth

Just as an aside, we did have to turn the axle hubs down to allow the 70's 2" wide 5 lug drums to work on the rear of my 66 gmc (12 bolt rear end)

Kieth

Here is a shot of the modified axle:

http://kieth.smugmug.com/Trucks/66-G...86_ZfxoQ-X2-LB

Here is the brake drum on the hub:

http://kieth.smugmug.com/Trucks/66-G...651_mRnu3-A-LB

these drums were for a 1970 2" brake shoes....

[markeb01]

I redrilled the original 6 lug axles on my 1960 GMC, and the later 5 lug drums fit perfectly after the axle was repatterned, and the brake drum registration stub on the axle was turned down to match the new drum center hole.

Although the brake shoes themselves changed over the years, GM used the 11x2 shoes from about 1951 up to the mid 70’s. The important point is to make sure you buy 5x5 drums that are designed to fit the 11x2 shoes, and have the same front to back dimension in the brake drum lining/contact area as the original 6 lug drums. This photo illustrates the critical measurement:



I was amazed how many different brake drum dimensions are offered for the same application. The first pair I bought didn’t even cover the back of the brake shoes. Others were much deeper and would collide with the backing plate. Some were made in Argentina, Paraguay, and a couple of other foreign countries I can't remember, so make sure to measure before taking them home. Ultimately I went to several part suppliers and measured the dimension shown above until I found a pair that exactly matched the dimension of the original 1960 drums. They slipped on and worked perfectly.

[Captainfab]

Good advice Mark

[jamcoupe]

I'm about to have my stock axles drilled to a 5x5 pattern. Does"plugged" mean welding up the existing bolts holes before drilling the new pattern?

Thanks,
Jeff

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by jamcoupe

I'm about to have my stock axles drilled to a 5x5 pattern. Does"plugged" mean welding up the existing bolts holes before drilling the new pattern?

Thanks,
Jeff

Yes.
Don't forget to machine down the center hub, of the axle,... to fit your new brake drums.

[jamcoupe]

Thanks !

[Captainfab]

When plugging the original stud holes, it is best to cut some pieces of round bar, the length of the thickness of the axle flange. Then taper the ends, and weld them into the axle flange.

[Brim]

I don't want to convert to disc up front and would like to retain the drum setup but just want to make it a 5 lug drum setup rather then a 6 lug. Can someone tell me what donor parts will work. I am familiar with the disc conversion but not ready to go there just yet, my truck is my daily.
Thanks,
Mark

[Brim]

Ttt

[Captainfab]

I do not know of a 5 x 5 hub that will be a direct fit to the spindle. You will likely have to have your original hub plugged and drilled to 5x5. Then use a 5x5 drum for a 2" wide shoe. However I don't know if there is enough meat on the hubs to be able to turn the hub register down to 3.06". That would need to be checked closely.

[Brim]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

I do not know of a 5 x 5 hub that will be a direct fit to the spindle. You will likely have to have your original hub plugged and drilled to 5x5. Then use a 5x5 drum for a 2" wide shoe. However I don't know if there is enough meat on the hubs to be able to turn the hub register down to 3.06". That would need to be checked closely.

Thanks for your input.