I took some digital calipers and measured the lip ( in several places) on the drums that had been turned and one was .248 and the other was .25, I'm not sure if these are valid measurements but maybe they might indicate how much braking surface is left if someone knew how much there was to begin with. Also, I went to chase the threads on the big flat headed screws that hold the drums on to the hubs and found out that they are actually 3/8-16.

 

I think you need to take them back to that brake shop to have them spend 15 seconds each with their drum gauge to tell you exactly what the inside diameters measure. Or find a more cooperative shop.

Edit - without that info there's no way to have your shoes relined. You won't know whether yours are close to spec, or way over spec and needing to do as Chuck described to have thicker linings shaped to the drums. Stu

 

OK, went down and got the drums properly measured and they are as follows...12.13/ 12.40

 

So they are both well over .020" spec. (.130"/.400"). Chuck's guidance needed. Stu

 

I'm going to take them to another shop and have them measured again. .400 seems way outa line to me. Almost 1/2 inch of material gone seems unlikely. I wonder if .013/.040 might be the real numbers?

 

I hope so. At first I thought that was what I read, then edited those comments out when the numbers sunk into my head. If there is a "0" in front of those numbers your drums are golden. Stu

 

Wooohooooo!!!!! 12.04 on both drums, I saw it with my own eyes, three times, three different places!!! Moving forward and not going backwards is such a good feeling.

 

Hot dog!!!!!!!

 

Great progress on your brakes.
What is the max the drums can be turned? im sure i read it somewhere on here on fte but dont recall.


thanks for posting part numbers on seals and bearings. Any anything else you use. Will be very helpful when myself or others get there.
I still need to compile my notes on my transfer case re-build.

 

Factory spec is .020" oversize, 12.020". Same as 2wd. Chuck has said (earlier in this thread iirc) that he would be comfortable going to .100" over teamed with thicker linings and drums matched to the shoes.

How's the transfer case doing? Stu

 

I guess the next obvious question would be...How far beyond the .020 max can factory replacement shoes be used before custom relining is necessary?

 

I looked at my receipt for the work Chuck did on mine and see that he did replace the brake shoes rather than having them relined, but can't find the part numbers he lists so don't know if the M-H axle takes a special set of shoes. He will have to give advice on how much oversize is too far over for brake adjustments to remedy, and whether stock replacement shoes exist and will work. Stu

 

The M H manual says that all brake parts except the drum and backing plate, are of the standard Ford type

 

Thinking back, one of the guys that measured my drums said .04 was real good and that on a 12 inch drum .09 was the discard point. With that I would assume that standard ford replacement parts should be usable up to .09

 

I've heard said often that Ford's .020" standard is awfully tight. And considering this is a limited use truck it's gonna be good for another 65+ years. Stu