Grinding brake drum for duals?

Kroner96

Kroner96

New member
Joined
Nov 27, 2007
Messages
483
Have any of you had to grind the brake drum to fit dually rims? I found a set from a junkyard and it looks like I will need a 3.5" spacer to get them to fit. I would like to only need a 1.5" or 2" spacer. I will only need to grind a little bit on the outside and put a taper on the 1" lip around the studs. How much material is safe to remove? Anyone have pics?
 
Kroner96 said:
Have any of you had to grind the brake drum to fit dually rims? I found a set from a junkyard and it looks like I will need a 3.5" spacer to get them to fit. I would like to only need a 1.5" or 2" spacer. I will only need to grind a little bit on the outside and put a taper on the 1" lip around the studs. How much material is safe to remove? Anyone have pics?
Click to expand...

All depends on what year the truck is. I tired just grinding the drums on my brothers 97 a few years back (actually chucked the drums in the lathe) and machined down the cooling fins and also a bunch off the front of the drum to make clearance. Got to the point the steel was paper thin and it still wouldn't work with a set of duals (94-2001.5) Then I pulled the tire off my dads truck (2001.5 with the smaller diameter but wider drums) and the duals fit right on with just some minor grinding with the hand grinder.

I think your best bet is going to be finding a set of 17" duals off a new truck which should give you some more needed clearance. If that doesn't work swap the axle for the one mentioned above with the smaller drums.

Good luck!!! Ryan
 
i just got some dually rims and test fitted them on my 2000 drum brake single wheel 2500. i thought about machining down the drum but i still dont think it would work. it looks as thought i need either a 3/4 or 1" spacer to make it work.

or you could remove your rear brake drums, cap off the brake line and it should work. i removed the drum just to try it and it slipped right on perfect.
 
lightsOUT said:
i just got some dually rims and test fitted them on my 2000 drum brake single wheel 2500. i thought about machining down the drum but i still dont think it would work. it looks as thought i need either a 3/4 or 1" spacer to make it work.

or you could remove your rear brake drums, cap off the brake line and it should work. i removed the drum just to try it and it slipped right on perfect.
Click to expand...


what size of drums/pads are they? if you have the smaller diameter drums it will work with just minor grinding.
 
not really sure. id have to measure it. whatever size drum comes factory on a 2000 2500.

also, i dont think the dually rims are factory dodge. i think they are ford. not 100% sure tho.
 
The trucks a 96 dodge and the rims are off of something else, I think early 80s chevy. I need to bore the centers out but the way the rims are dished I think a little grinding will go a long way towards making them fit. I know I will need specers still but I think a 3.5" is just too much. Our rules wont allow us to remove brakes so they have to stay. How much different are 1 ton drums? Could I use a spacer between the hub and 3500 drum?
 
I tryed this seup last season with a dana 80 single wheel off of a 97 but there was no possible way it was going to work without making a custom inside rim or just switching to 17inch rims. I ended up putting a 99 dually 80 in and saved myself the grief.

Thanks Kris
 
the problem with going to the dually axle is that its wider than the single wheel axle so when you mount the duals they are going to stick out almost 6" from the box (not all clubs would have a problem with this but ours up here cracked down on it at our last meeting). My brothers truck when we fit the duals on the single wheel D80 the tires where almost fully covered by his fender flares (stuck out maybe 3" from the box sides.

Ryanb
 
Bought some drums from the junkyard to experiment with. I put a little taper on the thick part of the drum and gained about 1/8". I think now it is hitting on the heat fins and outermost area. Since I have an extra set now I think I will grind the fins off and take off the raised area with the balancing notch on it. Any more ideas?
 
DSLWSL said:
I tryed this seup last season with a dana 80 single wheel off of a 97 but there was no possible way it was going to work without making a custom inside rim or just switching to 17inch rims. I ended up putting a 99 dually 80 in and saved myself the grief.

Thanks Kris
Click to expand...


so they will clear ok with 17" rims?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top