In the process of tearing down my front end on my 1952 F-3, I took a good look at my front brakes and had a question on my brake drums. On each of the drums I noticed a slot cut in them near the outside edge. Is this meant to be an indicator of if the drum can still be safely turned (if so I'm going to need new drums, I can see the slot from the inside) or did someone just have too much fun with a cutoff wheel? Any help/comments would be greatly appreciated. Also if it does mean they can't be turned, does anyone know where to get a new set of either good used drums, or new ones for a 1952 F-3.
I haven't dug into the rear brakes yet, so I'll see what the story is back there. I know those drums do have a larger time window of the years they were used so I'm not as concerned. Thanks in advance.

Jon

 

>... cutoff wheel? Any help/comments would be greatly appreciated.
>... does anyone know where to get a new set of either good used
>drums, or new ones for a 1952 F-3.

Jon,

Don't know about the slots but I would think the shop manual would have all the info you would want about the drums plus a lot of other goodies. Best money you'll spend on your truck. Easiest place to get one is the on-line store.

WRT new drums, in 1952 both versions of the F-3 (the 3/4 and 1 ton) used part number 1D-1125B in the front. These are the same 12" x 2.4" drums as the F-2 so you could use F-2 drums if you found some. I'd try Joblot Automotive (www.joblotauto.com) since they have the best selection of parts for the bigger trucks. :-)

For some reason I don't have the part numbers listed for the rears. Barry, you got those numbers in your parts books?

George

 

I wondered about that when I saw those on my truck. Those slots are actually a place to insert a feeler gauge for adjusting your brakes. The shop manual gives a detailed explanation of this procedure. As far as seeing if the frums are good, take them down to Napa or somehwere and they should check them for free. If you need the specs, let me know and I'll dig out the manual.

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 17-Sep-02 AT 08:48 AM (EST)]I have a couple of good used drums off my F3, but I still need them to move the truck around until I get a new suspension under it. When I get the front axle out from under the truck, I'll be willing to sell them, but at this point it's going slow. Mine is a 48, but I assume they are the same as a 52.

 

Thanks for the replys on my question. I do already have the factory manual and an original 48-55 chassis parts books which have been invaluable for me finding parts and interchangability of them. I know with the front brakes, the part number I need with the drum is specific to only 1951-52, found on the F-2, F-3, and some of the F-3 Parcel deliveries, so I know these parts are harder to find. Judging by the condition or my drums, I should be able to have them turned at least one time, but if anyone has a set sitting around that they might want to get rid of, I know it wouldn't hurt to have a spare set. Again thanks for the input and any further comments would be more than welcome.

Jon
aka, Iron dragon