Working on the brakes for my 32 project removing the Hubs from the Aluminum Buick Drums and I cracked the drum. Must have been the process I used , tried to remove the rivet from the inside. Second drum removed the rivet from the top, no problem!. Absolutely made me sick to my stomach!!! And to make matter worse I bought a pair of hubs from a fellow hamber for the project and he did not disclose the the rust. refused to take them back!
They came to you with that crack, and he won't take them back? Doesn't sound fair. Maybe he honestly didn't know they were cracked. How long ago did you get them?
So the drums and the hubs were separate deals ? Those hubs are terrible. Very surprised a HAMBer would do that to another HAMBer. Is he a newbie or been around for a while ? Don
Shitty deal on the hubs... they didn't include pictures or say the were in shoddy condition? And I would weld up that crack in the drum.
I think it's likely the crack was there or was already started on an edge and you just made the inevitable happen sooner.
The crack I assume is in the drum. I have many times in the past V cut the crack, Tig it up, and turned the drum with great results. Cool the drum slowly to relieve stress and there will be no problems. They usually twist just a bit when welding but if you cool them slowly they go right back. Not a big bucks job. I agree the hubs are pretty crappy! If you need I have a friend with several sets of '48 hubs in decent shape. Pm if you like and I'll forward his contact info.
yea all you can do is weld the drum up now. I feel your pain. I would tig weld up the hubs also and get them turned down on a lathe. You figure you already need them machined to fit the drum. Im waiting on my buick brakes for my car Im so exited. Like you said I think I knocked the rivets out from the top side and they just stayed in the hub.
the cracks run to the bead or ring that runs around the edge if the hub. Is welding this a process that is really safe? Thier are two cracks one on each side of the drum.
I feel its safe to weld the drum. its not like it holds the wheel on in anyway and as long as it is secured to the hub its going to be doing its job. I just wouldnt bolt the hub to the drum in that spot skip to another opening between the other lugnuts maybe some of the ones that havent been used. BUT at the same time Im not an engineer or a certified welder.
i have a hub drum like that i use for a base for the desk stool . i will look at it in the morning ,pretty sure its good . used it mostly to break balls . ican text a picture if you are interested send me the broken one you can have the one i have
As for the seller, he is probably one of that cadre that joins the HAMB expressly to sell his old car stuff. There are a number of them who advertise in the classifieds and sell but aren't one of "us" if you catch my drift. I've also run into a lot of people at swap meets who peruse the classifieds on a regular basis but never even check the message board.
Those hubs are complete trash. The guy should make things right with you on that deal. He didn't show you pics first?
The hubs had surface rust and the picture did not show the pits I contacted him and he refused to do anything about the sale Tried a claim with Paypal and that was a joke!
Yep, I got a pair of cracked drums that are welded up and are my spares. The hubs need to go to Dennise [hotrodladycruiser] for her yard art project. And you should let us know about the fella who sold them to ya unless he is in the process of making it right. One thing about the HAMB at least the older unfriendlier HAMB is that we police ourselves. if someone is burning people we need to know before it gets out of hand.
What are those old hubs from? Hope they were not too much $. Might measure those old hubs and turn some new ones out of some steel stock. Can you use the bearings and races or are they junk also? I'd weld the brake drum also. Tom S.
Hard to say for sure from the photos but the crack looks old near the lug hole. the metal may have been weak. Is it shiny clean metal in there? The hubs were a rip off if he sold them to you unseen. Name and shame. David
I've seen a lot new guys trying to sell stuff, and if they don't have more than 200 posts so I can check them out or be an Alliance member I pass.
I wouldn't put too much faith in welding the drums - cast aluminum is so porous and so much 'trash' and air in the castings that i would not rely on them. They are your brake drums. And the crack will go right to the brake band is sitting - man, i would pass on that. I for sure have a spare drum i can donate, it has buick hub if you need it or i can knock the hub off and send you the drum - shoot me a pm with address etc and i'll take care of the rest ok?
You got that right!!!!! Tell us who it is,,it's guys like this who screw it up for the honest guys here! HRP
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