Brake Question, 70 CJ5

Looked at the drums on my 70 yesterday, initial measure would indicate 11" diameter. Drum has no fins. Auto Zone lists only 11" brakes shoes for a 70 CJ5. My assumption is that this is stock? I thought 10" brakes were std until after the intermidiates came out.

 

A 1970 cj did not come with 11" brakes and auto zone is wrong. You may have 11" brakes but they would have been converted from the stock 10" ones.

 

When measuring brake drums, are we measuring from the outside edge, ie. where it meets the backing plate?

 

no
you want to measure the inside, where the shoes ride
the drum might also have something like: "Max Diam 10.090" or the like
stamped/cast into the outside edge of the drum

 

Thanks!

 

I just went through this with mine, No one in town (chain stores)carried the 10'' parts I needed. The best prices I got online was from parts america for the shoes (about $16 per axle plus a core charge (why, I don't know) and for the drums was rock auto for about $13 a piece. Why the shoes are more expensive than the drums, I don't know but these prices sure beat the 40+ dollars anyone else had them for.