I’m planning on checking the condition of the drum brakes (front and rear) this weekend on my 66 442.

if I determine that I need to replace them, what kit should I be looking for? eBay has hundreds of them with prices all over the place. I have a friend who can get me a NAPA employee discount.

Any vendor or brand recommended? Are there any drums, shoes, and hardware that are not Chineseum?

 

The NAPA brand parts are fine to use. Wait until you inspect the condition of the brakes before buying parts.

 

Agree. Car was not driven much over the last 10 years.

 

Why does everyone want to buy a "kit"? These usually include no-name brand parts. Just get the correct replacement parts from a brand name like Raybestos or Wagner or Bendix. Everything for the drum brakes on these cars is available pretty much everywhere, as these 9.5" brakes were used on nearly all GM cars during the 1960s and in some cases into the 1980s. After the shoes, the most important parts to replace are the springs, since they do stretch and loose tension with age.

 

I'm not sure what components may need to be replaced until I get a chance to inspect them, but I was thinking in terms of just replacing everything as a fresh upgrade. Also figured it might be cheaper to get everything as a package, especially if the shoes and drums are worn out. NAPA caries all the stuff individually but I thought there might be some guys who could recommend a whole kit.

 

You can get a "whole kit" from Kanter. It will include no-name brand parts. Is that what you really want for your brakes. And if you plan to replace everything anyway, you don't need to wait until you take it apart.

 

If the mission is to find "kits" I'd look for wheel cylinder kits, to rebuild your original wheel cylinders, also. That way, the line in the back of the cylinder doesn't have to be cracked, with attendant problems that usually crop up, and the original Bendix / Delco Moraine cylinder is retained, instead of replacement with "chinesium" off shore cylinders of unknown quality and or metallurgy.

 

Its been my experience the parts that come in these kits are absolutely terrible. Buy what you want but you're better off buying quality components, and really you're only ordering a handful of parts.

I would take the time to inspect the brake hoses and replace if needed. They are often overlooked and if they are originals I'd replace them for sure..

 

If you are looking for Quality / Non Chineseum garbage Brake Shoes , I
CAN service you at this moment in time !!!!

I have some *** N.O.S. *** Asbestos *** Brake Shoes —- the softest , smooooooothest braking system known to mankind, and they don’t rip up brake drums to smithereens….

I have some *** N.O.S. *** U.S.A. Made *** Brake Hardware , Brake Hoses , Wheel Cylinders , and Front Wheel Bearings and Seals …….

Always best to simply call me —- 516 - 485 - 193five —- Craig….

 

After having a look at everything, all that was needed was to replace the wheel cylinders. Shoes and hardware are good. Unfortunately, chineusium was the only thing available from the parts stores but the cylinders look like decent quality and installed without problems. All four brakes work perfectly now and I would think that since the car is not a daily driver these will last as long as I have this car. Thanks for all the comments.

 

This would have been true for any brake parts you buy. Everything from shoes to drums to wheel cylinders to calipers, rotors, and pads for front discs are made only in China these days. All the name brands (Raybestos, Warner, etc.) all say "Made in China" on the box.

The only thing that might not be made in China is the spring kits, often called "drum brake hardware kit."