Doing frame off restore on '69 Chevelle SS. Some parts, like consumable items, I like to buy locally. I decided to purchase brake drums from the local national auto parts chain. I buy the expensive ones which are made by Wagner. I go to put the first drum on. I look at it and the casting is very poor and pourous. It's gots some huge weights on it, no adjustment slot and it will hardly fit over the studs.

I go to put the other one on. There's no weights, has the adjustment slot and the casting looks much better and it has a machined lip around the backside. I think, Oh, they gave me one of the cheap ones that have been reboxed because both have the same part number. Take them back to the store to exchange the bad one for a matching good one.

As the boxes are sitting on the counter, I note that one is made in China (poor) and one is made in USA (good). Well, the US one must have been old stock because I can't find anything but Chineses cast drums around here.

Other alternatives: I found a place that sells Delco and I've ordered them but am worried about what they will be when they come in. Our sponsors sell drums but don't want to risk the shipping if they are crappy. Inline Tube sells drums, ditto above.

So the question is, what is everyone buying these days for good quality brake drums?

I recently U-picked a set of finned cast drums from an eighties Olsdmobuick. No adjustment slot though.

You can still find aluminum drums out in the U-pick. But the stacked height of the drum and my Torque Thrusts don't have enough clearance.

Just a question...

Nothing left to machine on your originals? A few minutes in a blast cabinet and a turn on the lathe and you'd have new drums...

I have no drums...bought a basket case.

Anyone used the drums from the restoration aftermarket?

Got finned ones at a local junk yard. Pretty good shape.
Had them turned for $5 each. Painted the exterior myself.
You can be sure to get good american made that way.

did you try the local Napa store, get their good ones, they have several price ranges of parts.

Guys,
I'm doing a frame off restoration here. At this point I don't want junk yard drums (may have to use them).
O'Reilly's is where I got the Wagners that were both US (nice) and Chinese (poor).
I've gone to Advanced Auto and they didn't have anything in stock but said they could order something from BAER or Summit???
I've been to Autozone, theirs were Chinese.
I've called a local indenpendent that sells Bendix, and they were Chinese.
I've ordered some from another local independent store that sells Delco. I haven't seen them yet.
I looked at the stuff online from NAPA. Here's a picture of their more expensive one - Chinese.
Anyone buy brake drums they are happy with?

This is a sad testament to US manufacturing.

Truly a shame that we as a group ( classic car owners) have to buy.. as there is not much alternative to what amounts to junk or I am being nice here, inferior parts than what these fine old cars came with. I bought a interior kit and I think I came up with some new cuss words with this BS TAIWAN stuff they gave me.

What's happened with brake drums is that the OE parts are now about 15 years out of production. So suppliers don't have to meet the OE's quality standards and don't have the new car production volumes to amortize their costs. So quality suffers to meet the price point acceptable to the guy trying to keep his 15 year old POS on the road. The downstream effect for us is that we'd pay more for better parts, but there aren't any.

Not saying I like it...

Don't get the Chinese drums! I have put 2 sets on the back of my Suburban all out of round to the hub 2 sets forget it looking for American made.

I've ordered some from another local independent store that sells Delco. I haven't seen them yet.

UPDATE:
WOW! I had incredibly good luck. The Delco's were "Made in the USA" (no prejudice to our Canadian friends ;)) and the quality I was looking for.
As a side benefit, the place I ordered from was about 1/2 the price of the major chains.

Please pass along the name of the business. Maybe we could all benefit from a good parts source.

Please pass along the name of the business. Maybe we could all benefit from a good parts source.

The place I bought them from was local only. I found them by starting here: http://www.acdelco.com/index.jsp

As a post-script to the story I found it confusing that there was an Advanced Auto Parts truck there picking up parts from this business. They could have bought them at the same price I did and doubled their money based upon what AutoZone and O'Reilly were charging for the same part.

Welcome to the real world of auto parts. :D

I did the parts sales thing for years. Sometimes it's hard to find good parts but if you find a good parts guy he can usually get you what you want and need.

The place I bought them from was local only. I found them by starting here: http://www.acdelco.com/index.jsp

As a post-script to the story I found it confusing that there was an Advanced Auto Parts truck there picking up parts from this business. They could have bought them at the same price I did and doubled their money based upon what AutoZone and O'Reilly were charging for the same part.


What was the part number?

What was the part number?


2nd round....... What was the part number on the brake drums????

3rd. I need drums as well and don't want garbage.