Front Brake Drums
- Thread starter SHARP327
- Start date
SHARP327
Veteran Expediter
Front brakes were replaced along with the hardware, Drums were smooth and no heat/stress cracking so we decided to go with the old drums.....now we have a squeal while rolling slow to a stop....I hate that and want it fixed.
The brakes will stop you on a dime without pulsing at all but sometimes roar when backing up so when the drums are being replaced I'll have them knock off the edge of the brake shoes....I heard this or dust will cause that noise and vibration....We'll see
The brakes will stop you on a dime without pulsing at all but sometimes roar when backing up so when the drums are being replaced I'll have them knock off the edge of the brake shoes....I heard this or dust will cause that noise and vibration....We'll see
Are you running Meritor Q plus shoes? Buy the real deal the knockoff brands are usually a harder compound creating noise and friction material will often rust and dirt jack. If you replace the drums spend the extra dough and get the better shoes. Also check the slack adjuster to make sure the parts installer didn't damage it.
Bob Wolf.
Bob Wolf.
mugurpe
Seasoned Expediter
My understanding is that the brake squeal is created by brake dust and the pads/drums getting burnished. This is supposedly caused by light brake applications. A heavy application of the brakes will burn through into fresh materials, eliminating the squeel. Anecdotally, we get bad brake squeal on our International and after a couple of hard applications coming off the highway, the squeal will go away. I read an article somewhere about this but can't find it now. The problem is good truck drivers don't need to hard brake very often so you end up with the squeal. Just what i've read and it seems to be the case when I've tested it out.
SHARP327
Veteran Expediter
The crazy thing is...I had the shoes replaced @760k and they were still around 7/16" thick....but I try to practice preventive maintenance and thought replacing them would be a good thing....now I have the slow roll squeal and I'm thinking the fresh surface of the drums will resurface the shoes and eliminate the squeal.
Actually the shoes will cut the drums. If you have any groves or defects it will be cut into the drum.
The brake friction material although more brittle, is actually harder than the drums. That is why most premium machine shop cutting and finish tools are composites rather than steel. Also drums are cast which makes them inherently weaker.
Bob Wolf
The brake friction material although more brittle, is actually harder than the drums. That is why most premium machine shop cutting and finish tools are composites rather than steel. Also drums are cast which makes them inherently weaker.
Bob Wolf