Composite brake drums

Discussion in 'Heavy Duty Diesel Truck Mechanics Forum' started by spindrift, Aug 9, 2020.

  1. spindrift

    spindrift Road Train Member

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    What's the experience with lightweight composite brake drums? Do they hold up?
     
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  3. Rideandrepair

    Rideandrepair Road Train Member

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    I’ve heard of and used lightweight drums, without issue. Never heard of composite drums though. Just lightweight steel drums.
     
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  4. Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

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    Composite drums are just another name for lightweight drums, they use steel for the hub and cast iron for the actual brake surface,
     
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  5. spindrift

    spindrift Road Train Member

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    Webb Wheel | Brakedrums | Hubs| Rotors
     
  6. spindrift

    spindrift Road Train Member

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    Scratch that video...it's worthless.
     
  7. spindrift

    spindrift Road Train Member

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    Maybe, but the ones I'm interested in learning about use an outer shell of aluminum and an inner cast iron surface. The aluminum provides better heat dissapation.
     
  8. AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

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    Wonder how long until they crack from dissimilar metals being in contact?
     
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  9. baha

    baha Road Train Member

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    I bought a truck with the LIGHT WT. DRUMS with close to 500,000 mi. and a driver did the hole brake job, and left the drums laying in the scrap pile, the shop guys told me next insp. i was going to need to do a brake job on drive axles before next 6 mo. ck. they sold me his drums and i put hi stoping power shoes on it, i sold the L WT DRUMS to a driver that cams were flipping over at 1/2 shoe warn out and he told me they lasted 350,000 more mi. so they must be good drums, and 200 lbs lighter than the ones i put on?
     
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