58 VS 59 brake drums

5

58Coupe

Member
Hello everyone! I have a 58 Special I am fixing up. I have a 59 LeSabre with the finned aluminum brake drums. My 58 Special has the normal cast iron drums on the front and back. From my research I think the aluminum 59 finned drums will swap over to my 58, but I'm looking for some confirmation of that thought. I appreciate your feedback, thanks!
 
58 coupe,

I swapped front & rear drums & brakes from a '63 Riv. to my '55 Special MANY moons ago.
Made a HUGE diff. in braking power & performance.
I keep the manual brakes as the car didn't have power.
As a 20 something thing kid I don't remember it being that hard.
I'm 77 now so it was awhile ago
A little machine work cutting inner races & a spacer for the wheel cylinders it was a worthwhile project that turned out well & I was happy with the outcome/results.
AND I used the tapered bearings instead of the old style rollers.

Tom T.
 
Thank you Tom! I’m in the process of taking the rotating 364 out of the 59 and before I get rid of the 59 I was thinking of taking the aluminum brake drums off the 59 and swapping onto my 58 Special.

I haven’t been a Buick owner for very long, but from what I’ve studied and read, you are a Buick LEGEND! Thank you for your help Sir, and thank you for replying to my thread!
 
Looking at a Hollander interchange, it shows the '58 Special with either steel or aluminum drums and the aluminum drums are the same for the '58 Special and all '59 models.
 
I think what you will find is that you now have front brake shoes that are 12"x2" & you will be going from 12x2 to 12x2x1/4" which will require a 1/8th. inch spacer for the wheel cylinder which I don't think will make a difference as the pins will be on a small angle.
I didn't have a problem with my'55 Special when I did the conversion.
It was a night & day difference.

Tom T.
 
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