Cast Iron and Steel brake drums from Motorsport

[zdude1967]

Hello and Happy Holidays. 

 

I recently purchased some brake drums from Motorsports in Orange California. My original alloy ones seem to be in OK shape, but I wanted to redo everything prior to painting the car, brake line, wheel cylinders, all brake parts and drums. My question is has anyone had any problems with the cast iron replacements. I read somewhere about them locking up but do not know if that was in a racing application, my car is not a race car. My original ones seem in good shape but again just wanted to replace everything. Please share your thoughts on the Motorsports cast iron and steel drums - anyone on here using them, feedback please. 

Thanks 

[Yarb]

IMO take the originals to a parts house that turns drums. They will measure and tell you if they can be machined.

[zdude1967]

Yarb- yes I agree that is an option my questions is more geared to learning if the cast Iron / steel replacement drums are problematic or a good replacement that produces no problems. 

[Yarb]

Not problematic imo. Aluminum is lighter and probably dissipate heat faster. Not an engineer just my opinion. Producing aluminum cases with cast iron inserts have to be more expensive to produce. Take them to a machine shop and see if they are turntable.

[Zed Head]

5 hours ago, zdude1967 said:

I read somewhere about them locking up

A sinlge odd story about "locking up" doesn't hold much weight.  Might be that the user screwed something up.  No reason for steel drums to perform differently than aluminum, as far as braking is concerned.  They just weigh a bit more and hold more heat.

I wonder where they got them.   It looks like they found a drum from another vehicle with the same dimensions.

https://www.thezstore.com/product/6204/steel-rear-brake-drum-70-78-240z-260z-280z

Description:
Nissan discontinued the original aluminum drums; however, we were able to locate these proper fitting and operating steel drums at a fair price. Sold individually; one required per side (2 per car).

[jonbill]

I have the steel drums on one of my cars. I didn't notice any difference in performance from the original aluminium ones.

[HS30-H]

6 hours ago, Zed Head said:

I wonder where they got them.   It looks like they found a drum from another vehicle with the same dimensions.

Several other contemporary Nissan models had the all-ferrous brake drums as standard equipment, notably the C10-series Skyline. It has always been seen as an 'upgrade' (lighter weight, better cooling) to fit the Alfin drums from an S30 onto the more sporty of the C10-series Skyline variants. They are a like-for-like fit. 

Suitable replacement - 'pattern' - Alfin drums were still available from BREMBO last time I looked.

[HS30-H]

By the way, fitting the Nissan S30 Alfin rear drums has been a popular modification for certain Triumph models. The Spitfire in particular. Hence the specialists such as Moss and Rimmer Brothers used to filch supplies from the UK's Nissan dealers. Now they have their own pattern supply:

https://rimmerbros.com/Item--i-201246UR

"Reassuringly expensive", as the saying goes...

[Patcon]

11 minutes ago, HS30-H said:

By the way, fitting the Nissan S30 Alfin rear drums has been a popular modification for certain Triumph models. The Spitfire in particular. Hence the specialists such as Moss and Rimmer Brothers used to filch supplies from the UK's Nissan dealers. Now they have their own pattern supply:

https://rimmerbros.com/Item--i-201246UR

"Reassuringly expensive", as the saying goes...

Does that mean we can filch the drums from them now? 😉

[dutchzcarguy]

I've got some Nissan orig. brakedrums bought from someone years ago and he said they came from a TVR rear axle..  Only he had to make the 4 wheelstud holes a bit bigger.. i bought them anyway as they where then already very scarse..  I only need to put a little ring in the holes to use them again on a s30 nissan! 

What kind of TVR these drums also used is not known.. But someone could investigate.  He said they fitted good only the 4 wheelstuds/bolts where bigger on a TVR.

[HS30-H]

3 hours ago, Patcon said:

Does that mean we can filch the drums from them now? 😉

Would be rude not to.

[zdude1967]

Thank you everyone for the replies. This groups is always helpful. I am going to bring the aluminum drums to O Reillys to have them miked and see if they have enough meat on them. They are not pitted or even gouged, and they seem in good shape- is the opinion to get them cut anyway (not at O Reillys- I will find a machine shop) or to just use them as is if I decide to reuse the originals...BTW anyone on here from the Phoenix area that knows a place to get them cut. The last machine shop I used for work I regretted. :<