'65 Delta 88 front brake drums
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Joined: Dec 2024
Posts: 1
From: Arlington, Washington
'65 Delta 88 front brake drums
Hi All,
This is my first post, so forgive me if I did this incorrectly. I am replacing the springs and shocks on my '65 Delta 88. I tried to have my front drums turned and found out one of them is .045 out of round, so I need a new drum. I cant find one anywhere. Everything I have found lists it as a 9" drum, but mine is 11". Any chance someone has one laying around? What have you guys done when needing to replace drums, but they are not available? I was going to look into the disc brake conversion with Scarebird, but their website isn't working so I am waiting on a message back. My other issue is the speedometer runs off the front spindle, so I am not sure if that will be affected with the conversion to discs. Any help you guys can offer would be greatly appreciated. TIA
Mike
This is my first post, so forgive me if I did this incorrectly. I am replacing the springs and shocks on my '65 Delta 88. I tried to have my front drums turned and found out one of them is .045 out of round, so I need a new drum. I cant find one anywhere. Everything I have found lists it as a 9" drum, but mine is 11". Any chance someone has one laying around? What have you guys done when needing to replace drums, but they are not available? I was going to look into the disc brake conversion with Scarebird, but their website isn't working so I am waiting on a message back. My other issue is the speedometer runs off the front spindle, so I am not sure if that will be affected with the conversion to discs. Any help you guys can offer would be greatly appreciated. TIA
Mike
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 508
Welcome to the site Mike! I moved your post to the parts wanted forum. If you think you might go disc brakes please read these threads. Joe P spent a lot of time looking at front brakes for his 1967 which I believe will also apply to your 1965.
https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...e-cars-132879/
https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...ersion-168320/
https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...e-cars-132879/
https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...ersion-168320/
Registered User
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,255
From: Northern California
Mike,
Welcome, you’re among friends.
The drum you’re looking for is getting rare. When you search, avoid anything that relates to the Jetstar. It’s an 88, but with less expensive and undersized Cutlass parts as a pricing play on Oldsmobile’s part back in the day. Especially in brakes and suspension. You don’t want to reduce (downgrade) the swept area of your brakes.
The universe of parts you can look in goes across the years 1965-1968. After that Olds offered disc brakes as an option and things got a bit more complicated. You can safely swap in brake drums from a 65-67 88/Starfire/98 donor car, assuming your brakes are factory now. Don’t bother with anything after 1970 for the front suspension. Olds changed it totally in 1971.
Check boneyards like French Lake Auto in MN, Desert Valley Auto Parts in AZ and Turners Auto in CA. Also check Hess Brothers in Northern CA. These are all classic car boneyard and might have the drum need.
You already know to ask about the remaining interior surface area before committing your funds. You may have to buy a few drums on spec (speculating they’re good) before finding 1 good one.
Looks like you’ve already discovered that disc brakes are an option. Joe P. and I (and others) have a long running thread about this. I warmly suggest you find it and read up. The good news is it’s a great upgrade. The bad news is factory rotors (discs) are now just about as rare as the drums you’re looking for. The other good news is you can custom machine Cadillac new rotors to work as 1965 88 discs, but it’s a long road requiring skilled professional machinists to modify the Caddy rotors to fit the Olds.
Figure north of $1,500 or so to do the conversion depending on parts you have and what you can do yourself. Conversion to disc involves later spindles, later brake master cylinders, rotors and calipers. This is non-trial, but a very good fix. Yes, the Caddy rotor solution is yet more. The bottom line is upgrading is well worth it but expensive.
As you consider your options, remember that in 2025, every car on the road in front of you has better brakes & can stop shorter than you. You want your brakes to be as close to good-as-theirs as you can. Or simply find a drum and leave greater distance between you & the car in front of you.
When people cut in front of you in your old car, remember you’re enjoying the ride. They’re commuting or rushing and having less fun than you. With that mindset and patience to find the drum you’re looking for or a disc upgrade, have a ball with your old car.
If I were new the old car hobby with an eye on cost, I’d exhaust the drum option before committing to the $$ for disc conversions just to be sure I really think it’s worth the $. You can always upgrade down the road when you’re happy with the car.
Cheers
Chris
Welcome, you’re among friends.
The drum you’re looking for is getting rare. When you search, avoid anything that relates to the Jetstar. It’s an 88, but with less expensive and undersized Cutlass parts as a pricing play on Oldsmobile’s part back in the day. Especially in brakes and suspension. You don’t want to reduce (downgrade) the swept area of your brakes.
The universe of parts you can look in goes across the years 1965-1968. After that Olds offered disc brakes as an option and things got a bit more complicated. You can safely swap in brake drums from a 65-67 88/Starfire/98 donor car, assuming your brakes are factory now. Don’t bother with anything after 1970 for the front suspension. Olds changed it totally in 1971.
Check boneyards like French Lake Auto in MN, Desert Valley Auto Parts in AZ and Turners Auto in CA. Also check Hess Brothers in Northern CA. These are all classic car boneyard and might have the drum need.
You already know to ask about the remaining interior surface area before committing your funds. You may have to buy a few drums on spec (speculating they’re good) before finding 1 good one.
Looks like you’ve already discovered that disc brakes are an option. Joe P. and I (and others) have a long running thread about this. I warmly suggest you find it and read up. The good news is it’s a great upgrade. The bad news is factory rotors (discs) are now just about as rare as the drums you’re looking for. The other good news is you can custom machine Cadillac new rotors to work as 1965 88 discs, but it’s a long road requiring skilled professional machinists to modify the Caddy rotors to fit the Olds.
Figure north of $1,500 or so to do the conversion depending on parts you have and what you can do yourself. Conversion to disc involves later spindles, later brake master cylinders, rotors and calipers. This is non-trial, but a very good fix. Yes, the Caddy rotor solution is yet more. The bottom line is upgrading is well worth it but expensive.
As you consider your options, remember that in 2025, every car on the road in front of you has better brakes & can stop shorter than you. You want your brakes to be as close to good-as-theirs as you can. Or simply find a drum and leave greater distance between you & the car in front of you.
When people cut in front of you in your old car, remember you’re enjoying the ride. They’re commuting or rushing and having less fun than you. With that mindset and patience to find the drum you’re looking for or a disc upgrade, have a ball with your old car.
If I were new the old car hobby with an eye on cost, I’d exhaust the drum option before committing to the $$ for disc conversions just to be sure I really think it’s worth the $. You can always upgrade down the road when you’re happy with the car.
Cheers
Chris
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