Rubber plugs on '63-'64 drum brakes

[Garry E.]

Did Chevy put small rubber plugs in the adjusting holes on drum brakes...? I just re-did the rear brakes on my '64. In the new spring kit were two rubber plugs for the adjusting holes.... My original brake drums had nothing but the empty adjusting hole.... It makes sense to have them, but I wondered if they were there originally....

Thanks

Garry Eastwood
#38705

[Richard S.]

Re: Rubber plugs on '63-'64 drum brakes

my 64 does not have the holes, not sure if they are originals or not, brakes are self adjusting, so i am not sue if originals had adjustment holes. richard

[Wayne M.]

Re: Rubber plugs on '63-'64 drum brakes

Did Chevy put small rubber plugs in the adjusting holes on drum brakes...? I just re-did the rear brakes on my '64. In the new spring kit were two rubber plugs for the adjusting holes.... My original brake drums had nothing but the empty adjusting hole.... It makes sense to have them, but I wondered if they were there originally....#38705

Gary -- in both the '63 and '64 shop manuals is says

"NOTE: If brake drums are worn severely, it may be necessary to retract the adjusting screw. To gain access to the adjusting screw star wheel, kock out the lanced area in the web of the brake drum using a chisel or similar tool.

CAUTION: After knocking out the metal, be sure to remove it from the inside of the drum and clean all metal from the brake compartment. A new hole cover must be installed when drum is reinstalled"

--- no mention of rubber, but that's the only plug material that makes sense. The '64 manual has a picture of the access hole. Can you see this oblong hole with the steel wheels attached ? If so, another item for judges to verify; ie. no rubber plug; no empty hole; just an original metal knock-out .

[Joe R.]

Re: Rubber plugs on '63-'64 drum brakes

OK, the question is!!!!!

Cars are judged:

1. As they were on the showroom floor

2. As they were delivered to the customer

3. After they had 100,000 miles put on them and were restored


If you answered #3 then you may have a hole or rubber plugs!

JR

[Roy B.]

Re: Rubber plugs on '63-'64 drum brakes

C1 used metal dust covers lower left pic

[Wayne M.]

Re: Rubber plugs on '63-'64 drum brakes

Found something in Chev catalog, Gr 5.117 COVER, Brake adjusting hole, '53-63 Corvette [also '38-63 Chev] # 1455648, (1_1/4" x 9/16" -- rubber).

This size is certainly bigger than the oblong hole in the drum, but maybe it's the exterior face, with the other side having a shape to interference fit the adjust hole. And, of course, its a SERVICE item . Strange it doesn't extend to 1964, or even '65 with J61 disc delete.

[Garry E.]

Re: Rubber plugs on '63-'64 drum brakes

I took another look at the rubber plugs that were included in the kit..... they are the same size that Wayne mentioned..... the larger size keep the outer side of the plug from passing through into the drum....

I'm going to use them..... it makes no sense to leave an open hole in the brake drum where more dirt and crud can accumulate on the linings....

Thanks for all your comments...... I appreciate it!

Garry Eastwood
#38705

[Stuart F.]

Re: Rubber plugs on '63-'64 drum brakes

Garry;

You're missing out on the increased cooling and brake dust exhausting provided by the open adjuster holes - kidding of course.

Back in the old days, the hole was in the backing plate and not the drum. I found that much easier to use as you could spin the entire wheel when checking for adjustment drag, specially when the car was on a lift. I believe they moved it to the drum along with the advent of the self adjusters as it seems the only time you would do an adjustment was when the brakes were serviced - sort of a one time thing of set them and forget them (do a lot of backup stops, etc.).

It is probably wise to use the plugs (rugger or spring clip) just like we did in the backing plates. I do with mine.

Stu Fox

[Duke W.]

Re: Rubber plugs on '63-'64 drum brakes

As far as judging is concerned, the metal "knockouts" should be in the backing plates. They left the St. Louis plant that way - at least on '63-up models with self-adjusting drum brakes.

I'm not sure about pre-'63 with non self-adjusting brakes.

Duke

[Michael H.]

Re: Rubber plugs on '63-'64 drum brakes

As far as judging is concerned, the metal "knockouts" should be in the backing plates. They left the St. Louis plant that way - at least on '63-up models with self-adjusting drum brakes.


Duke

The "knock outs" were in the drums for 63. Not the backing plates.

[Garry E.]

Re: Rubber plugs on '63-'64 drum brakes

That raises another question...... were the metal covers on the drums used on the '64's as well as the '63's....?

I have a late '64 (5/22/64) car.... were they still using those metal covers at that time, or had they converted over to something else (rubber plugs)...?

Thanks

Garry Eastwood
#38705

[Stuart F.]

Re: Rubber plugs on '63-'64 drum brakes

Garry;

I believe to clarify what has been stated in the previous posts, it is necessary to understand that Chevrolet did not provide any plugs for the drums from 63 through 65 (self adjusting brakes). They only provided plugs on the 62 and earlier non-self adjusting brakes, and these were in the backing plates and not the drums. I believe it is safe to say that all drums from the factory for 63 through 65 had knock outs in them. If the knock outs had been removed, it was done in the course of servicing the brakes, and then plugs were provided in the service kits to replace the knock outs. So has been my experience anyway.

Stu Fox

[Duke W.]

Re: Rubber plugs on '63-'64 drum brakes

The "knock outs" were in the drums for 63. Not the backing plates.

You are corrrect. I just checked my original '63 drums and the knockouts are intact. I was confused by my recollection of adjusting brakes from the inside way back when on pre-self adjusting systems.

As far as judging is concerned, the knockouts cannot be seen with the wheel mounted, and given the location of the knockout, I don't see how a rubber plug would survive very long before it was totally cooked by heat.

Duke

[Jim W.]

Re: Rubber plugs on '63-'64 drum brakes

Early 64 with all four metal knockouts still in place.

[Michael H.]

Re: Rubber plugs on '63-'64 drum brakes

Early 64 with all four metal knockouts still in place.

Yup, that's a correct un-knocked out knockout.

What are your casting numbers?