Finned Aluminum drum brakes

Fellow V8 Buick members:

A fellow hot-rodder is interested
in Buick's finned aluminum drum
brakes. The question he asks is:

(a) When did Buick first introduce
finned aluminum drum brakes and
how long did they make them? (what years?)

(b) Can one determine the year
of a finned aluminum drum brake...?

Thanks for the help,
Ed

 

Hi - Just to tell you something you already know... I have them on my 64 LeSabre convertible. Just removed them today and changed out the bearing races. I am in the middle of rebuilding the brake system [winter project]. Wish I could be more help.
Matt

 

Finned aluminium drums with cast iron liners were first introduced by Buick in '57 - not sure of the last year they were used. Early style drums had 45 cooling fins, and the later style had 90 fins. I would think various part numbers would determine the year. :TU:

 

I had them on the rear of my 72 GS. Peace, Mike D.

 

There is another thread here (at least one) discussing weights if I recall as well as what cars had them. Fuzzy memory here though because it didnt apply to me.

 

Pretty sure the back of my Electra has some nice big ones. It's a '73

 

The finned aluminum brake drums were first introduced in 1957 and installed on the Roadmaster. These thumbnails are of mine.

Dan

 

'57-'60 are rare & have 12x2 1/2" brake shoes which today are very hard to come by. The most popular for hotrodders were the '61-'66/45 fin drums. Much more common with 12x2 1/4" shoes. Sometime in '66-'70 they were also 12x2 1/4" shoes but with 90 fins. They are going today without being oversize by more than .090" selling for $75.00-$150.00 each if you can find them.