Hi


I was wondering if it's worth replacing the drums in the back with disc brakes. is it worth a 500 dollar upgrade I do already have discs in the front. Or should I just replace the shoes and wheel cylinder get the drums turned and call it good.

 

If the shoes are in good shape, the wheel cylinders are not leaking, and there is no vibrations when you apply the brakes, then its all good. I would not invest the money unless your going to be doing some serious driving, like autocross.

 

I was going to just overhaul the drum brakes with new springs wheel cylinders shoes and either replace or resurface the drums. Figure it's cheaper then disc in the back. and maybe replace the brake lines since there all new in the front figured I should do the back too. Spend 200 bucks instead of 500 what it would cost for disc brake conversion kit.

 

Are the drums badly worn?, are the brake lines rusty?. Come to that are the wheel cylinders weeping fluid?.
You are unlikely to notice any improvement in braking efficiency unless you replace worn shoes and drums or leaking wheel cylinders.
As (other) Eric says but put another way, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Roger.

 

I know I have one leaky wheel cylinder that why I figure if I overhaul both sides with new parts it will be just as good and cheaper then installing disc brakes.

 

There will be no improvement replacing older good parts with newer ones. If its just wheel cylinder, repair/replace those only. To cut a drum that's not warped removes metal and increases the chance it will warp. Rear brake shoes last a long time, almost twice as long as front pads. Just saying...

 

You will not even notice an "upgrade" in the braking system by installing
rear disc brakes....
2/3rds of the braking is up front ... most of the weight (the engine) is
up front --- and unless you are chauffeuring 3 - 400 pound girls in the
back seat, leave well enough alone....


And if you are chauffeuring around 3 - 400 pound girls in the back seat,
see if any of them have a slender friend for me....

 

Basically just replace the wheel cylinders and shoes and don't bother turning or replacing the drums. the drums are in good shape.


How about brake lines. I know there line from the front to the rear has A kink in it where it connects to the proportioning valve and there not enough line to cut it and flare it. Should I replace that line or just leave it and see if it works with the little kink in it.

 

If its just a small kink, not a big deal. How much material is left on your shoes? Pictures?

 

I had A wheel cylinder leak so there brake fluid all over the brake shoes and drums. I figured shoes are cheap replace those and just clean the drums with brake fluid. and install new wheel cylinders.

 

You do not want to clean the drum with brake fluid. Use something like lacquer thinner or acetone.

 

I do have A parts cleaner with paint thinner in it. I can use that. I might even have some lacquer thinner somewhere.


now to bleed the brakes do the vacuum one man brake bleeders work or should I stick with bleeding the brakes with 2 people? I do have brand new front disc brakes new master brake lines and proportioning valves so I know ill have a lot of air n the front brake lines.

 

What the best way to bleed brakes.


2 person way or A vacuum pump brake bleeder?

 

Either way works fine

 

Why should we not use brake cleaner on a drum? I did it last time I worked on the rear axle bearings. Do I need to do any remedial work now?

 

He said brake fluid, not brake cleaner.

 

 

Wow - another example of the reliability of am eyewitness

Sorry!

 

No apology necessary pcard. Funny how we do that. I do it all the time. I guess my response sounded a little blunt which it was not intended to.