My Brakes ?

I know I'm keeping you all busy this week. I'm pretty deep into tearing this thing apart and would like to get it on the trail pretty quick. So thanks for all the help.

11" brakes on my 66 CJ. I know this is a good thing but getting the right parts is a challenge right now so I hope someone has this one. I need new drums because as usual they are beyond spec to machine. NAPA gave me (sold me) drums that look quite a bit different but seem to fit (almost).

Also of course sometime I'm gonna need Wheel cylinders, rebuild kits and shoes. So knowing exactly what I have would be good.

Here is a few photos of the system.








This is the two different drums.






finally the new drums do go on but I have this gap.




So what do I have?
Will these drums be fine?
Thanks again for all the help.

 

Well, I'll have to look at my manuals whan I get home.

They aren't Bendix - maybe Delco from a Wagoneer? The 5-lug Wagoneer brakes will work on a CJ, from '73 or earlier.

You're missing the self-adjusters. If you get the right hardware kit, you'll have a lot more bits for the adjusters. You can convert 11" brakes to manual adjusters, but that's not the conversion kit. The conversion kit will have a spring that's long enough to go across the star wheel and hold it from turning, and the star wheel will have larger tangs.

If you find the right hardware kit, get two fronts if you have the e-brake on the transfer case. The rears will expect a cable operated brake with some more hardware.

Another possibility is Utility Truck brakes, but I can't recognize those. I've heard that they fit...

 

Regardless of finned vs. non-finned, they should be the same depth. Measure the shoe width. Should be 2" IIRC.

Are you sure you have tightened the brake enough to allow them to completely go on/ are they flush with the hub?

 

At Napa, we looked at a photo of Wagoneer drums. They looked just the same, except they had 6 bolts.


Quick unscientific test of brake cleaners. The Super Tech one that says "Warning Highly Flamable" works better than the CRC Brakeleen stuff that is non-Flammable.

 

Yes, the new drum bottoms out on the washer kind of thing at the base of the studs. I had to loostin the adjustrer slightly to put the new drum on.

 

Uh huh. The Wagoneer had 6 lugs after 1973. Before 1973 they were 5 lug, 5 on 5.5" bolt circle, just like a CJ. If they are Wagoneer, they are from before 1974. If the picture for before 1974 shows 6 lugs, it's wrong.

 

I believe the "washer things" on your lug bolts need to come off. These look to me like drum retention clips and should be on the outside of the drum, not the inside. This would allow the drum to sit flush against the hub. I could be wrong, but I also believe you have Bendix style shoes with a Wagner self adjuster. You should be able to get the Bendix (cable style) self adjusting hardware from your local FLAPS.

 

The mounting hardware looks more like the hardware on my 10" brakes rather than 11" brakes

 

Yeah, the shoes look like Bendix (I expect that's what Napa gave you), but the clips sure don't.

The pic in my '77 manual shows rear drum brakes on a Wagoneer (IIRC that's Delco 11") but it too uses the springs, cups and nails like Bendix, not the nails and clips (like 10" brakes?). Looking at the '72 manual, it only shows Bendix, so prior to '74, they must have all been Bendix type. If a 5-lug Wagoneer drum fits, you should be able to get the Bendix hardware kits and self-adjusters, install them per the '72 manual, and you'll be golden.

Usually you don't reuse the return springs either. Yours don't look so great, but you can test by dropping them on a concrete floor. If they make a single tick, like a pebble, they are good. If they buzz, they are not. Also, you should put a dab of white grease on all the metal-to-metal surfaces where the shoes ride against the backing plates and the wheel cylinder pins. A new self-adjuster will arrive lubricated, but it helps to put a little grease on the threads and under the cap.

 

Great! Thanks everyone. I'm going to look toward the 72 wagoneer for now. I'll likely need more help with the self adjusters.
Does everyone agree the drums should fit tight against the hub and the washers should go on top of the drums?

 

I wonder if the PO put those washers on to stop the drum from rubbing on the backing plate? Looks like you have a washer on 4 of 5 lugs. They should all be the same, regardless. I'd remove and discard them if your drum fits.

 

you should have a slight gap between the drum and the backing plate. Take the washers off and see how much of a gap you have.

 

washers are not supposed to be there as drum can,t seat all the way on hub thats why you have the gap.