Brake drum rubbing backing, why? (3 Viewers)

[BrianSanDiego]

Hi guys,

On my last trip, my right front brake drum started rubbing the brake backing along the top edge. I cleaned out any sand that was there, still rubbed. Checked my wheel bearing preload and its good. Pulled the hub and the outer bearings look fine and the inner one feel fine. (I can't eyeball it because the grease seal hides it)

The drum rubs more when going around right-handed turns. But, I can't really feel any slop in the system by hand. Oh yea, double checked the brake backing bolts and they're snug and safety wired.

Could it be worn wheel bearings? Bent or cracked spindle? ( I wasn't beating it) I dunno

Thanks a lot in advance!
'Preciate it.
Brian.

 

[spotcruiser]

Backing plate bent? Warped drum?

Edit: With the wheel off the ground, can you rock the wheel top to bottom? Is there vertical play there?

 

[BrianSanDiego]

Thanks for the suggestion Cruiser.

I don't think its bent though. I just went out and looked and didn't see any signs of impact, and its rubbing along the top edge.
Any other ideas?
B.

I'll go spin it and see if it looks warped. BRB

 

[amaurer]

The drum rubs more when going around right-handed turns. But, I can't really feel any slop in the system by hand.

Obviously there is some slop, otherwise it'd rub constantly - your hands must not be strong enough, have the give it a try.

 

[BrianSanDiego]

Backing plate bent? Warped drum?

Edit: You don't have a retainer screw between the drum and the hub, right? I'm sure you don't, but people have done it. I think you'd notice a problem right away.

With the wheel off the ground, can you rock the wheel top to bottom? Is there vertical play there?

No screw between the drum and hub. The drum just "floats" on the lug studs. I can't really feel any play top to bottom. Definitely no clunk, but its hard to tell if there is any looseness at all.

Also, when going around a turn, it'll be a constant rub. Not a pulsing like I'd expect from a wobbly drum.

Thx, B.

 

[spotcruiser]

Did it start rubbing after some event, like that wheel dropping into a hole or a hard impact with a rock? That might help diagnose what it is.

 

[BrianSanDiego]

Well I'd been offroading all weekend, and running up down some sand dunes prior to noticing the noise. But the terrain wasn't very rugged and no rocks or anything. I didn't bonk the wheel on anything. but maybe took a few solid bounces in the dunes.

 

[65swb45]

Did it start rubbing after some event, like that wheel dropping into a hole or a hard impact with a rock? That might help diagnose what it is.

I think you're on to something there spot. IF he can't get the wheel to rock [sign of loose wheel bearings] but he's got a rub, he could well have a cracked spindle.

Brian, If there's even a CHANCE that this has happened, you should NOT DRIVE THE TRUCK any more until you have a chance to disassemble the hub and inspect the spindle. Specifically look at the radius where the bearing surface meets the flange of the shaft. That is the weak point.

Best

Mark A.

 

[Chula Vista 71 FJ40]

Guide studs for you

If you end up tearing the knuckle down AGAIN let me know and I'll drop the makeshift studs by your place tomorrow afternoon. Good Luck

 

[Otterav]

The only way to figger this out is to start with the basics:
1) Grab the top of the wheel and pull axially back and forth.
2) Jack the front wheel up and repeat above.
3) Disassemble the offending wheel bearings and inspect.
The weight of the cruiser will cause the tapered wheel bearings be centered while at rest. When driving and adding side loads the rubbing will surface. As the bearing clearance increases the off centering of the wheel will cause rubbing of the drum/backing plate. This is not a self healing problem and will only get worse ending with the destruction of the spindle and possibly hub, ask me how I know! The good news is this is a relatively easy fix, starting with a bearing adjust thru wheel bearing replacment. Collect your parts and hack away!
Hola
eric

 

[BrianSanDiego]

Thanks a lot for your help guys!
Those suggestions were spot on.

Apparently there was an "event" as spotcruiser suggested. And apparently that event caused the spindle to crack, just like 65swb, umm, KNEW!

Yep, there is a fine crack running around the bottom half of the spindle where it meets the backplate/flange portion. Guess I'm fortunate the spindle didn't break off completely. That would have been... interesting.

I really wasn't driving it that hard! This must have been another gift from the PO. Really


Thanks again guys. You might have saved me some serious drama.
Brian.


I'm posting in the Wanted section, but if anyone in San Diego has a drum brake spindle shoot me a PM
B.

 

[spotcruiser]

Hey Brian, I'm glad you found it before it found you. You probably won't have trouble getting a spindle from another Mud member, but, just in case, I see that SOR has used spindles for $75.

 

[BrianSanDiego]

Hey Brian, I'm glad you found it before it found you. You probably won't have trouble getting a spindle from another Mud member, but, just in case, I see that SOR has used spindles for $75.

Well put. Yes I think it could have been really dramatic had the spindle cracked all the way through. That gives me even more incentive to get a good roll cage in there.

Hopefully I'll find a spindle locally, but if $OR is as bad as it gets, then its not too bad.

Also, I'm really curious if broken spindle are very common. I know anything can be broken, but Cruisers are plenty beefy and I'd think a spindle would be seriously over-designed.

I'm thinking about swapping out the other side too while I'm at it. It could be the other one has suffered the same impacts over its long life, and could be weakened too.

Thanks again guys, Brian.

Oh yea, Tom, looks like I'll be back in the knuckles
Hopefully this weekend if I find the parts. So I'll get back to you about the knuckle studs. Thanks bro'!
B.

 

[CruisinGA]

Before you buy one from SOR, let me know.

I'm not local, but I could get one to you shipped for significantly less than $75.

 

[65swb45]

Brian, whoever you talk to, have them check that radius out REALLY well. There are a LOT of drum brake spindles out there with hairline fractures.

And, um, I do sell landcruiser parts once in a while.

 

[BrianSanDiego]

Thanks again for the help guys. I'm going to try to find a spindle locally but might end up talking to one of y'all about shipping a part down.

So had that spindle broken completely, the wheel would have probably flopped up into the wheel-well sideways still attached to the axle? Gawd, that coulda been ugly.

Has anyone seen that happen before? I would think that would be a very rare occurrence, but if cracks aren't really unusual....?

 

[bogus one]

Thanks again for the help guys. I'm going to try to find a spindle locally but might end up talking to one of y'all about shipping a part down.

So had that spindle broken completely, the wheel would have probably flopped up into the wheel-well sideways still attached to the axle? Gawd, that coulda been ugly.

Has anyone seen that happen before? I would think that would be a very rare occurrence, but if cracks aren't really unusual....?

My buddy Leadhead just had this happen a few months ago. I had the old front end from my son's rig sittin' around, so I gave him one of the spindles.

A certain gentleman with a 45 picked up the rest of that diff, and probably has the other one available.

 

[FF LC FREAK]

Sounds like a good time to go with disk brakes. You already have it down that far, might as well look for some mini or 60 parts to put back in.