Not as familiar with drum brakes as I am disc. I'm rebuilding my rear drums with new hardware, wheel cylinders, shoes and drums. I see both 2" and 2.5" shoes and drums listed for my 1967 cutlass supreme holiday coupe. My question is what normally came on the standard cutlass and can they interchange at all? Meaning if I have 2" on my car now can I put 2.5" drums and shoes on it? Any help would be great, thanks!

 

I've never seen 2.5" wide inch rear shoes on an A body only on the front.The drum will not seat on the axle.Nick

 

+1. You have to use the right shoes.

2" sounds right, but if you're really not sure, you can measure them.

- Eric

 

2.5 shoes were used on the Vista Cruisers rearends. Not sure what the difference to switch them is. Maybe something with the backing plates. The vista backing plates have a D shape hole in them to mount the wheel cylinder as an A body has a round hole. I do know the larger rear shoes used larger wheel cylinders. My rear wheel cylinder went from $5 a piece for standard 2" shoes on an A body to $40 a piece and side specific for the 2.5" Vista Shoes. The wheel cylinder were 1" diameter for the bigger shoes. as Eric said do some measuring. The larger drums maybe more expensive as well.

 

As noted, the listing is wrong. The only rear drum brakes used on the A-body cars (except the "skyroof" wagons) from 1964-1972 were 9.5" x 2.0". As noted, the Vista and Buick SportWagon were the only cars to get 2.5" wide rear drums.

 

Awesome guys thanks for the help. I was getting lost because rock auto lists alot of pads at 2.5" and drums at 2.47"

 

Um...

I just looked on RockAuto for a 67 Cutlass brake shoes. All the 2.5" shoes listed are clearly called out as FRONT brake shoes for drum brake cars, which is correct. All the rear brake shoes are shown as 2".

 

Alright now i feel like im going insane. I just checked on my work computer and you are right. It does look different if Im using my ipad at home, maybe that listing is whats messed up.

Though they do have some Acdelco drums listed as rear with a depth of 2.47" is that standard? I just want to make sure I dont order the wrong parts.

Also anybody had experience with these manufacturers between bendix, centric, wagner or raybestsos. Stay away from any of them?

 

Bendix, Raybestos, and Wagner are all quality brands and I have had no problems with any of them. Centric is Chinesium.

 

That's handy information on how to ID, magna86. Thanks!