drilling brake drums

[benand117]

whenever i drive through the creek i don't have brakes for a couple of miles. what do you guys think about drilling the drums. i know guys use to do it to jeeps back in the day. don't see why it wouldn't work on the deuce.

 

[doghead]

Is your shift key broke?

 

[benand117]

i don't even know what a shift key is. i think it's just wet brakes. if i ride them for a little bit they dry up and work fine. i hear the holes let mud and water out. atleast thats what the old guys, (my dad), say.

 

[doghead]

I can tell you don't know what a shift key is!

It's the key to the left of the letter Z.

 

[doghead]

Holes will let it in also.


Unless your truck is ONLY used off-road, I would not drill them.

 

[benand117]

Here I'll use the shift key just for you. But water doen't seem to have a problem getting in.

 

[treeguy]

Don't the drums already have holes somewhere for this reason? Someone had told me about this once.

 

[dozer1]

I would continue drying them out like you do. Ride em a little and there dry. The possibilities of doing more harm then good are there. I googled this and that was their general opinion on some other forums too.

 

[phil2968]

It's not just him it bothers, it bothers a lot of people. You might get more and better responses to your questions if you took the time to type properly.
Even disc brakes fade when sunk in water and need to be dried. The deuce brakes are bigger and carry more water, drilling may help relieve some water carrying but they will still need to be dried.

 

[phil2968]

Don't the drums already have holes somewhere for this reason? Someone had told me about this once.

They have a inspection hole on the outside edge, remove the cover and measure the brake shoe adjustment. Can be done whith the wheel in place but can be a PITA.

 

[mdmorgan]

If you lightly drag your brakes while going through the water it should help them to dry even faster cause water wouldn't be able to get to the friction surface as easy.

 

[dozer1]

Don't the drums already have holes somewhere for this reason? Someone had told me about this once.

I think there is a few well placed holes. I know when I had a leaking wheel seal that the oil escaped from those holes and didn't get on the shoes. I thought that was pretty cool.

 

[benand117]

There are a few hole in it already, but they're around the edges. I figured if they were in the braking surface it would let water escape even faster. I just can't see drilling them could hurt the integrity of the drum, I mean they drill and slot rotors and the hold up in race cars.

 

[doghead]

If you drive it on the road legally, and you have an accident, I think you will regret ever drilling the drums.

There is a big difference between a rotor and a brake drum.

 

[clinto]

The Army planned on driving them through water...... enough so that there were factory fording kits and they chose to have the drums as they are (undrilled).

 

[Heavysteven]

Best option would be to take off the inspect plates.

I am hesitate to even respond because I bet your bearings have had all the grease washed out.

Water above the hubs means mucho pcms.

 

[khandoh]

Rotors are drilled and slotted mainly on ABS applications to dispense some of the heat, as they can get very hot. Generaly speaking, large heavy brake rotors are kept, as brakes convert kenetic energy to thermal. The more mass to absorb heat, and the more surface area, the better.

 

[steve6x6x6]

Disc brakes are the only way to go with that much water.

 

[booger]

Is your shift key broke?

you must mean 'broken'

 

[Tow4]

Best option would be to take off the inspect plates.

I am hesitate to even respond because I bet your bearings have had all the grease washed out.

Water above the hubs means mucho pcms.

Just remember, bigger holes let the mud and other garbage in easier too. If you are going to play in the mud, pull the drums and clean everything up when you are finished. I learned that lesson 30 years ago in my mud truck days. It doesn't take long for the mud to chew brake shoes and drums up. Not to mention bearings and seals.