Do HUBS have to be removed from front drums for turning?

[Norman Silverman]

Hello All

I am going to get my front drums turned/machined but want to know if the hubs have to be separated from the drum before I bring them to the shop?

Thanks

Norm

[Russ Austin]

No, take the whole assembly to the auto parts store. Ask them if the bearing needs to be removed.  I would recommend it to keep trash out of the bearing. 

[Norman Silverman]

Thank you, Russ.

[Scott Santora]

There is a brake lathe at one of the shops where I work. Just machined my drums myself Thursday. Like Russ said, you do not remove the hub. Whoever is turning the drums for you will have adaptors to chuck up the drum to the lathe. You do need to remove the seal and bearings. You don't have to but I would clean out the grease inside the hub as well. 

[Jason Edge]

Find a machine shop that can do the hub with drum. Not all shops that turn drums have the adaptors to turn with hub in place. I know because I have to drive an extra 4 miles to get mine turned.

Remove the Grease Retainer (seal) and bearing. Do not remove the cub (race) that the bearing seats against.  I remove the old grease as a courtesy to my customers.

For years I kept turned front hub and drums on hand but had run out a year or so ago. In the last week I had 4 sets (8 hub & drums) turned, and all where shipped out as of yesterday. I have 2 more front sets at the machine shop  ready to pick up tomorrow, so if anyone needs the already turned I sell for $135 each. That drops to an $101.25 with Chapter Discount, but will go an even $100 for any Chapter member.

I also sell like new cadmium plated lug nuts for $1 each or $5 per hub & drum set. I have several hundred and can pick you out a like new set to replace those chewed up old ones.

Email me at [e-mail]

[Norman Silverman]

Thanks, Jason. I also bought 2 mew Delco drums but my shop said they were so out of round it didn't pay to use them. Too bad, because it is the rears that I need and they would just pop right on.  I also saw something you wrote about the new drums not fitting properly, what was that?

Norm

[Jason Edge]

The balancing weights are recessed on the original drums. They are not on the new aftermarket drums ... or at least on those I had seen for the last decade or so. The protruding weights will not allow the wheel (steel rim) to mount up flush. I have a brand new set of drums I bought from AutoZone way, way back before I realized they were no good and am stuck with them as nice new very large paper weights.

I sell original rear turned drums for $95 each ($71.25 for Chapter Members). I currently have 1 set of rears on hand... but think I have more somewhere I need to find and have turned.

[Norman Silverman]

I will take them. 

Norm