Hi Guys,

I have a 1967 Mercury M100 2 wheel drive I'm working on. The front drums were too worn to be turned, so I got a new pair from Napa. The old shoes were also damaged, so I got newly relined shoes from a place that specializes in relines. I cleaned up the back plate, the wheel cylinder showed no signs of leaking so I left it. Installed new shoes - everything went together as usual. When I went to install the drum, it was a tight fit over the shoes, so I backed off the star wheel compleatly. I did manage to get it on, but it wouldn't go on all the way. I pilled it off again, and realized the stud holes were too small to go over the bottom of the studs. I measured the bottom of the stud and drillled out the holes to 19/32". Still very tight, and wont go on all the way. I flipped the drum around and used the wheel nuts to press fit the drum on. After several tries, and lots of filing with a rattail, I was able to get it to sit flat on the hub.

I can only turn the wheel with both hands, because the shoes are dragging. As I said before, the star wheel is turned in all the way - no more adjustment. I've done brakes before, but this is new to me. Am I missing something? The shoes are right up at the pivot point at the top, so I dont think the wheel cylinder is involved. I do find it unusual to have the star wheel adjusted to it's minimum length - on the rears, I had to adjust it out about 1/2" before it would contact the drum.

I'm considering enlarging the stud holes to 5/8" - I don't want to make the holes too large. I'm also concerned about the drum not sitting concentric with the wheel spindle if I drill the holes too large.

Sorry for the long post, but this has got me stumped. Any advice is very much appreciated.

 

First, go and have the Drum's turned. Its properly a little undersized so you can have it turned the first time. Then enlarge the holes to 5/8, you be ok, its HUD centric, Not Stud centric.

 

Madathlon,

Thanks for the reply. How much should I have turned off the drums - .010, .020? More or less? I thought they might be hub centric, just wasn't sure.

Thanks for your help,

John

 

Have them check the min. you need to use them. Most shops have a guide book that say what the mins are. they can then cut whats needed

 

Madathlon,

I took the shoes and drums back to the reline place and they skimmed the shoes to match the drums (for free!). Then I came home and drilled the stud holes to 5/8". Everything went back together no problem.

Thanks again for all your help,

John

 

Great to hear. keep on truckin'