Hey all, just wondering if there is a aluminum front drum available for my '71 GS.......or if someone knows what drums in aluminum are compatible
Your GS should of came with aluminum drums originally. You can use 67-72 drums (Buick only) they are on EBay sometimes. You can find someone here who may want to sell a set. I had.my set relined and they are like new.
I asked about this earlier this year-for 68/69 GS350's were cast and the GS400 were the AL lined is what I understood. I'm a fan, have them on my 65 GS and 69GS350 - replaced cast iron.
Thanks Ted I believe the '69 ones will fit up to '72 A bodies but not 100% sure on that. Just looking at reducing a bit of rotational weight
Our 68 gs400 came and still has the factory AL drums. You can find some for the rear from mid 80s gn and some s-10 trucks
How much better were the aluminium drums over the cast iron ones? A moot point for me, as I did a disc conversion a few years ago, but I'm curious.
That is an interesting question. I know my aluminums stop very well, but never compared it to a cast iron replacement..
I was happy w/ the alum. on my sbb. Would be interesting to do a test of ea. on the same car, etc. Cold, distance would prob. be comparable, but alum wouldn't fade as quickly on repetitive stops. If nothing else it's an easy unsprung weight reduction.
The issue with aluminum front drums or any used drum for that matter is the amount that they've been cut to. An aluminum front drum starts off at 9.500 inner diameter. At 9.565 they are maximum diameter. They can still be used but they are not able to be cut anymore. The cast iron ones are throwaways at that point. The aluminum ones can be re-lined and re-sized back to 9.500 but its costly. I think JB Relining gets close to $300 to restore an aluminum drum. I need to send mine in this winter as both of them are way oversize.
I sent my set and the work they did was just incredible. They stop way nicer than before I sent them. Pretty quick also
I'll have to measure the pair I have set aside for a future build. Look thick - Have seen much thinner.
I was able to buy a nice set from Mike Garrison a few years ago for a very good price, they needed to be cut but made the grade for min thickness. I also have some aluminum rear drums from a G body relined that I will be using (right after I had them relined they now make them new, cheaper!). I will report IF there is any difference....