It appears as though many subscribers to this forum have experienced drum acquiring issues for their big body cars. I am now the latest victim of Kanter Auto Parts myself. The drums do seem to fit correctly but will not work. My issue is in the axle hub (center) of the drum, where my factory drum has a thickness of .102", and the Kanter rears are at .318", so as you can see, I lose almost a quarter of an inch of wheel stud. My studs where almost flush with the lug nut on the factory drum, but not close to flush on Kanter drum. and with that, the rim doesn't sit on the axle flange to center rim (although the lugs will work to center, it's not a good arrangement). So the point is this, if you do decide to purchase a set of drums from a company, any company, claiming that their drum will fit, keep in mind they may fit, but the question is, will they work? I could replace wheel studs with longer ones, but try to find longer Left-Handed wheel lug studs with the correct dimensions. If anyone has any ideas as to how to fix this, I would greatly appreciate any input. I even tried to contact a smaller foundry to see if they would be interested in making drums for Oldsmobile's, but they didn't seem to interested. Someone had to cast these drums back in the day.

 

Unfortunately that's all that's available. The factory ones had steel flanges with cast braking surfaces. Current Chinese manufacturers cast the whole thing and 0.102 is too thin for cast Iron to be strong enough.

 

Here are 2 good threads with info on the brakes for 65-70 B/C body Oldsmobiles.

https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...-drums-119765/

https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...m-help-127845/

Hopefully the original drums on your car can be turned. Good luck.

 

Also try fusick oldsmobile parts

 

No one sells new correct drums for these cars. Try Craig at Mobileparts for NORS drums that he finds from time to time (though I did clean him out at one point for my 67 Delta).

 

Here's another option:

https://www.scarebird.com/

 

Just be aware that the Scarebird conversion uses smaller rotors than the ones the factory installed on these cars. One has to wonder if the expense of that conversion is worth it. Of course, any disc brake conversion (OEM or aftermarket) will require different wheels.

 

If you restore your original setup they will work great.

 

So it seems as though this thread is getting a bunch of responses, but my "B" body is a '63 Super 88. I don't want to put on any disc brake conversions since they're not correct. it just blows my mind how incredibly difficult this has become, trying to find drums. I have checked out J&G Brake Relining to see about that option, but at $360.00 per drum, that's crazy ( in my opinion anyway) Another question I have about the drums for this or any other '63 is: what are heavy duty drums and what makes them different? If a foundry could be found to stamp out or cast these drums, the foundry might find there's more business out there then they think. there is no safety max diameter stamped on my drums, so I wonder how large they can go before being considered unsafe? My '63 Olds shop manual shows to take a first cut of .060", which is crazy now, but back in the day, maybe that's how it was done

 

You can call fusick olds sometimes they good used drums for oldsmobile or maybe they can point you in the right direction.

 

The '63 drums were 11 inches diameter when new.
.090 is generally considered the oversize limit.
Therefore any drums that measure more than 11.090 in. should be considered JUNK.

 

Dura brake has a web site for drum brakes they manufacture for your 63 olds

 

Griffey, is this the Dura Brake website?

https://www.durabrake.com/

Probably they just include a part number for 60s Oldsmobile drums. If they sourced them they'd probably be the Chinesium ones currently available.

 

Yes it is, I want to help if I can

 

Dura Brake seems to make only brake parts for large trucks. What am I missing? I didn't see a way to search for Oldsmobile parts.

 

Might the original part number for the Oldsmobile brake drums be included in this parts list?

DuraBrake

 

398466 (for the rear) isn't there. The factory P/N for the front is the combined hub and drum assembly, so I didn't even bother looking for that. Again, everything on their website indicates that they make brake parts for medium and heavy duty trucks.

 

The factory part numbers for the front drums were 588074 (R.H.) and 588075 (L.H.).
They included hubs and wheel studs.

 

Charlie_Jones, I'm of your mindset saying 11.090 is junk, and that's the way it is today, but does anyone know a mechanic that was wrenching back in '63 to get a firsthand opinion? I do agree with your max size statement though

 

I started working as a mechanic's helper in a Chevy garage after school when I was in high school in 1966.
So yes, I worked on a lot of these cars " back in the day ".
Back then, the limit was .090 on the drums if you wanted to use " standard shoes ".
You could get oversize linings if you had to cut drums any larger than .090 oversize.
You could also get the shoes "re-arced" .
They actually had a machine that would grind off material from new brake linings to make them match the wider arc of the outsize drums.

The government put a stop to all these practices back about 1970 or so.
That's when they required the manufacturers to stamp wear limits on drums.
Modern brake shoes are arced for drums that are .090 oversize or less.

 

When I was in high school, we're talking 1978, we had an Aamco brake lathe with a shoe re-arcer on it, so you and I are quite familiar with those lathes.

 

Hey 68 Corvette,
I just found three (3) N.O.S. 1967 - 1970 OLDS 88 / 98 FRONT BRAKE DRUMS !!!!

If you haven't done a modification, call me immediately.....

Craig 516 - 485 - 1935......

Oops --- scratch that --- I scrolled up --- and see that you are a 1963 --- very very different, obviously.......