Well, here I am again looking for parts and advse. I got some new rear brake drums from Summit for the 62' Starfire, but no luck they don't fit. They're 11x2, 5 stud 4 3/4 spacing but not deep enough. The old drums are smooth, but just barely in limits. The car stopped fine before I took it apart even with cracked rear brake shoes. We're the shoes cracked because the drums were close or maybe age??!
And then there's the biting the bullet thing and putting disc's on the rear.
Dennis
​​​​

 

If your rear drums aren't warped I'd reuse them. Brake shoes crack with age and/or fluid contamination.
User mobileparts - Craig -- 516 - 485 - 1935... Long Island. Comes up with oddball drums. The easiest way to contact him is by phone.

 

If Summit lists drums for a 1962 Starfire (or any Olds full size through the 1970 model year), I can GUARANTEE that they are not correct. No one makes correct new drums for these cars. Kanter and Fusick sell Chinesium drums that are apparently re-machined drums designed for the newer full size cars. I've tried fitting one of these new application drums to my 67 Delta and the inboard edge of the drum rubs on the backing plate. One would only need to machine about 1/4" off that lip to get it to work. Of course it still won't look correct. As noted, Craig at Mobileparts should be able to get old stock replacement drums (though I might have cleaned him out for a while ).

Also, note that every single 1961-66 Olds Starfire came with a 5 x 5" bolt pattern. If Summit is selling drums with a 5 x 4.75" pattern, they are Impala drums and incorrectly labeled as Oldsmobile. In fact, if any vendor claims that parts like this fit both an Impala and Olds for model years 1970-earlier, run, don't walk away.

 

Sorry to disagree Joe, but my Starfire slipped through with 5x4 3/4" spacing.
Dennis

 

No it didn't. That is NOT how you measure a wheel lug bolt pattern. The dimension is actually called a BOLT CIRCLE, and it represents the diameter of the circle that passes through all five wheel studs. The A-body cars use a 5 x 4.75" bolt circle. With the exception of the Jetstar 88, the full size cars use a 5 x 5" bolt circle. I'll give you $100 if you can bolt a Cutlass wheel onto that axle.

 

Here is a better diagram

 

Excuse me, but in my post I said bolt spacing which is as measured in the pics. You are correct with your terminology, but order a drum at a parts place and they'll ask for bolt spacing.
No sense in continuing this post.
Dennis

 

Dennis,

If the old drums measure in spec, deglaze them if needed with sandpaper or better yet find a machinist that appreciates old hard-to-find parts who would measure them and only remove the absolute minimum metal on a lathe to clean them and reuse them. You don't want someone starting at .010" of material just because.

Yes the old shoes crack and sometime fall apart with age, their deterioration should not be connected to the drums.

Good luck!!!

 

Exactly what I plan on doing if Craig can't find a couple. The car stopped fine before the restore even with cracked shoes (front and rear). I'll clean and repaint all the parts as necessary, new shoes and see what happens!!
Dennis

 

 

I would check with kanters on myrtle street in boonton,nj . I've been there & they have an unreal inventory they take out ad's in hemmings motor news, good luck