11" Rear Brakes On Stock Dana 44 Rear Axle - Spacer?

Hey guys, I posted this in my build thread but figured the question might get more eyeballs here.

I have been hearing a metal/metal noise when doing the limited test driving I've been doing lately, and it turns out that the 11" drums I got from Herm are rubbing on the backing plate lip, causing a groove to be worn into the lip of the drum. Should I have installed a spacer of some sort? If so, what /where would I get one?

 

You may have A bent backing plate . The last one I got from Herm was bent.

 

I suppose that could be the case, if so is the remedy to replace it or just take a flap wheel to it?

 

If it's only rubbing in one spot, I'd flap wheel it personally.

 

Sure.....you can see the two spots it's rubbing on the LH side in the pic above, which is of course exacerbated by the bent axle shaft I discovered yesterday that will be replaced when the new one comes in....but the RH side is rubbing pretty much the full depth around the drum.

I just want to make sure I'm not missing a spacer or something I did wrong at install.

 

The width is set by the lengths of the axles, the width of the thrust block (27 in the picture), and how far the hub tighten onto the axle.


When you adjust the bearing pre-load with the shims (19), you are pushing the axle against the thrust block which pushes against the other axle which pushes against the other bearing. You can move the whole assembly side to side a little bit by moving some or all the the shims side to side but the overall width is fixed.

In your case, is seems like possibilities are:

• The Kaiser Willys hubs slide too far onto the axle shaft
• Your thrust block is worn and isn't as wide as it should be
• The ends of your axle shafts where they rub on the thrust block are worn
• You need to move shims to the side that is rubbing all the way around and hope a straight axle in the other side doesn't rub.

The easiest solution might be to grind the flange on the backing plates as long as the shoes aren't rubbing the inner face of the drums.

 

Cheers for this thanks.

 

Backing plates get bent, usually from being on axles that have been drug around and dropped at a scrap yard.

Hard to straighten them but since you can see where they have been rubbing I agree you can grind the high points on the flange and be okay, or let them clearance themselves. Certainly a bent axle would contribute to the problem.

 

Not legal in all states but a 14ga shim could sneak onto those wheel studs...

 

I see a full floater in your future. It's a dream for flat towing, maintenance, and durability.

 

Best conversion second to the Warn overdrive on my CJ.

 

Ditch the 11" drums for Metcalfs EEE disc parking brake.

 

Oh man if I had known about this two years ago....

 

I recall somebody had this problem before. If I recall correctly it was the new drums at fault. They were deeper than the originals