How Well Should Drum Brakes Work

OK, I don’t mean to be a pest but driving a Jeep is new to me (check out my “Maiden Voyage” post) Anyway, I tried some panic stops at about 40 MPH, should I be able to lock up the brakes at that speed? It stops OK just no lockup

I’m running 11” drums in front & 10” in rear

 

I recently replaced the shoes on my 11" drums, reusing the old drums without having them turned, as they looked ok to my eye.
I could not lock the brakes up until I had driven it for quite a few miles. Took the shoes a while to mate to the drums, I guess. They will lock up no problem now that they have mated to the drums. I'm running non power brakes, and it takes quite a bit more effort than power brakes to lock 'em up, but even with the higher pedal force required it would be very easy to lock 'em in a panic situation. Manual brakes take a while to get used to, especially if you aren't old enough to have driven manuals back when they were common. I'm an old coot, so I was well aware of the "feel" of manual brakes.

I probably could have accelerated the "mating" process, if I had kept a light foot on the brake or lightly applied the parking brake for the first few miles after I replaced the shoes...

 

yep should be able to lock up.

 

Hey Farfle I do believe that you are correct. I installed both new drums & shoes. Check out the attached pic's. You can clearly see how much of the shoes lining that still has to be worn off before the shoes will be making 100% contact with the drums. Guess I need to get busy & put more miles on it R)

 

Mine will lock up. Yesterday I had to do a panic stop on the freeway. With my power brakes and 11"brake drums, I almost put my daughter through the windshield. Good thing for seat belts.

 

those shoes don't look good. whats with the ribbed look?

 

who knows, just gonna have to brake them in. Shoes are Raybestos box even says official Nascar product. But when you check the fine print they are made in China. Brand name drums too but they are also make in China