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Aluminium Brake Drums?

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Old Jun 7, 2018 | 12:10 PM
  #1  
starfinder's Avatar
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From: Austria
Car: 1989 Pontiac Trans Am
Engine: 5.0 TBI
Aluminium Brake Drums?

Hello,

i have to replace my rear (metal) drums and i found the following alu drums at rockauto:

https://www.rockauto.com/de/moreinfo...251537&jsn=719

what do you think about the parts are there any advantages and disadvantages to the heavy metal drums? maybe do the alus have a faster abrasion as the metal drums?

Thanks!

Andreas
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Old Jun 7, 2018 | 12:14 PM
  #2  
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From: Houson
Car: 86 Firebird
Engine: 305 SBC
Transmission: 700 R4 TCI
Axle/Gears: 3.42
Re: Aluminium Brake Drums?

I wouldn't think they would last long, before I would do that I would rob the discs off of a 4th gen from the bone yard.
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Old Jun 7, 2018 | 01:33 PM
  #3  
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From: NJ
Car: 92 Firebird
Engine: 4.8 LR4
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 3.45 9 Bolt
Re: Aluminium Brake Drums?

It's a SLIGHT "performance" upgrade since you lose a little unsprung weight, but at the price point it's probably better to just put discs on the rear instead
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Old Jun 7, 2018 | 01:56 PM
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Re: Aluminium Brake Drums?

Pretty sure the aluminum drums are steel lined... Regardless the benefit to aluminum is light weight, less unsprung weight, reduced rotating mass, etc. Not really worth it for the repro dollar.
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Old Jun 7, 2018 | 07:04 PM
  #5  
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From: Chasing Electrons
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Re: Aluminium Brake Drums?

Drew is correct about the steel linings. They also shed heat more quickly then all steel drums.

They are an easy upgrade over the stock drums. If you go with rear disc brakes be careful of the ones you select. Some are junk, others are decent, and others are nothing but problems.

Look into it a bunch before slapping any 'ole disc brakes on there.

RBob.
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Old Jun 8, 2018 | 12:41 PM
  #6  
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From: Duluth, Ga
Car: 91 RS
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: Auburn Pro / 3.42
Re: Aluminium Brake Drums?

You will save 4-5 lbs each and they are steel lined. I picked up a set a few months ago and put them on. Thread below for pictures.

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/brak...installed.html
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Old Jun 13, 2018 | 11:12 AM
  #7  
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From: Dallas, TX
Car: 1982 Z-28
Engine: 5.7L Crossfire
Transmission: TH-350
Axle/Gears: GM Posi, 3.73
Re: Aluminium Brake Drums?

RBob is correct - the major benefit is that the AL drums will shed heat more quickly than iron drums. Used to be an old autocross trick back when rear discs weren't common. Several of the upscale GM brands sold cars with AL drums back in the 60s.
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Old Jun 13, 2018 | 11:52 AM
  #8  
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From: Il
Car: 1989-92 FORMULA350 305 92 Hawkclone
Engine: 4++,350 & 305 CIs
Transmission: 700R4 4800 vig 18th700R4 t56 ZF6 T5
Axle/Gears: 3.70 9"ford alum chunk,dana44,9bolt
Re: Aluminium Brake Drums?

The drums came on some F-bodys, a lot of 80s G-bodys and I've heard 80s S10s but I've never seen them on there factory.
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Old Jun 13, 2018 | 05:13 PM
  #9  
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From: Houson
Car: 86 Firebird
Engine: 305 SBC
Transmission: 700 R4 TCI
Axle/Gears: 3.42
Re: Aluminium Brake Drums?

Any discs will beat the heck out of Al drums for braking and heat dissipation. Though some are better than others. The proviso would be new rotors and pads.
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Old Jul 16, 2018 | 12:22 PM
  #10  
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Car: '83 Firebird (T/A Clone)
Engine: 350 with L-69 components
Transmission: 700R-4, 2000 RPM stall converter
Axle/Gears: 10-bolt/3.73 ..
Re: Aluminium Brake Drums?

I just got a set from Summit for $90 each and free shipping..
Attached Thumbnails Aluminium Brake Drums?-20180716_220105.jpg  

Last edited by T.L.; Jul 17, 2018 at 12:08 AM.
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