Tech QUESTION: Drilling brakes????

[greaseball]

Okay, so I'm sure we've all heard about how AWESOME it is to drill your drum brakes....
-better cooling
-lightens the "rotating mass"
-stops like disc brakes

That type of thing.

But what I'm wondering here,
is there a SPECIFIC way your brakes need to be drilled for all this too happen?
And is it a universal way of drilling, or does it change from "brake to brake"...?
Do you drill brakes the same on cars as on motorcycles, or trucks?
Do you drill the SIDES (where the shoes have contact)
Or do you drill the PLATES? (where the shoes mount)

I'm PLANNING on drilling the front brake for my bike,
but before I even consider doing that,
I think I need more info.-

[porknbeaner]

If you want to decrease rotateing mass then you drill the drums. I've seen it done on the real old timmy race cars, but have been told that there is no real advantage to it.

The old time bike trick was to drill the backing plate (where the shoes mount). Don't over do it. You save unsprung weight (minimal) and it lets the heat disapate a little better (the real advantage).

The real deal is to scoop 'em. The scoop drags cool air in and the holes on the other side lets the heat out. (that would be front and back of the backing plate).

Simple rule of thumb, whenever you give something the swiss cheese treatment you loose structure, don't overdo it.

[SimonSez]

Not sure if you have seen this link before. It doesn't really tell you any details but there are some pictures ...

http://www.chtopping.com/Home/index.html


I think BFTWCS here on the HAMB drilled the drums on his Ford Pickup ?