Kanter Brake Drum Problems

[lpppalmm59]

Has anyone ever bought new brake drums from Kanter for '55 to '58 American Pontiac?Mine don't fit correctly on my '56 Chieftain.I called their tech support and was assured I have the right numbers.I'm ready to send them back.My front wheels lock up when I tighten the wheel nuts and I can't get my rear tires on between the fender and wide rear drums.I was wondering if anyone else went through this.

[JPatterson]

Pontiac Offered more than one width Brake drum through the years.
The early cars all used a narrow drum and later models a wider drum.
1st thing I would suggest is measuring the width of your old drum in comparison to what you received.
Then I would also measure your Brake Shoes Width for the same thing and always compare new parts to your old ones.
You can also fit your shoes inside the drums off the car to see what clearance you have.
It is also a good idea to check the wear points on the backing plates as sometimes the brakes wear a groove here and can make for not moving smoothly.
Another question is are you sure the shoes are installed correctly ?
Always remember the short shoe is the forward shoe. The longer shoe is always the rear half .
here is how they are listed in the parts book: Front drums
used the same drums difference left hand thread on left side lug nuts. Right hand thread on right.
GROUP 6.306
1942-1948 507370 RH 507371 LH
1949-1954 512141 RH 512142 LH
1955-1956 519222 RH 519223 LH
1957 523755 RH 523756 LH
1958 all except taxi and police. 528498 RH 528499 LH
1958 all taxi & police (aluminum) 531874
all 1958 H.D.C. 531167 RH 531168 LH
1959-1960 aLL exc.Taxi & Police & H.D.C. Steel 536941 RH 536942 LH
1959-1960 all taxi, police & H.D.C. (aluminum) 534378 RH 534379 LH
1960 All Exc. police & H.D.C. (aluminum) 535279 RH 535280 LH
1960 Police (Spec. Order) (Roller Bearing) 535314 RH 535315 LH

REAR DRUM GROUP 5.809
1939-1948 ALL 16" 508847
1949-1956 ALL 15" 531228
1957-1960 all exc. police & H.D.C. 14" 524271
1957-1958 all police & H.D.C. 15" 531228
1959-1960 all taxi, police (exc. special eqpt. H.D.) & H.D.C. 531228
1959-1960 all police (spec.eqpt.) H.D.C. & trailer w/hvy.duty brakes 534592
1960 all exc. police & H.D.C. with Aluminum hub & drum 535288

Good Luck Hope this information helps.

[JPatterson]

I apologize for some miss information in the above answer. Late at night and tired reading from my parts book I copied information from group 5.803 instead of the group directly below it Group 5.809!
The following is the correct listing of numbers:
Group 5.809 DRUM REAR WHEEL BRAKE
1939-1957 ALL 505300
1958 All Exc. taxi, police & H.D.C. 528986
1958 All Taxi, police & H.D.C. 531788
1959-1960 All Exc. taxi, police & H.D.C. 533124
1959-1960 All Taxi, police & H.D.C. & trailer EXC. Aluminum 533850
1960 All exc. police & H.D.C. ALUMINUM 535282 RH 535283 LH

Thanks for the phone call from Kurt Kelsey checking this post to find my mistake.
Lets hope the brake problem was fixed and he is enjoying much happy safe cruisin.
Jim

[lpppalmm59]

According to your information there was only one part number for the left front,right front and rear drums for '56 American Pontiac.Kanter has no explanation for this as I explained that this is a bone stock car which has never been modified.Everything on this car is 1956.They agreed to take the drums back but now I'm back to square one.Has anyone used the brake drums from Ames?

[lpppalmm59]

According to your information there was only one part number for the left front,right front and rear drums for '56 American Pontiac.Kanter has no explanation for this as I explained that this is a bone stock car which has never been modified.Everything on this car is 1956.They agreed to take the drums back but now I'm back to square one.Has anyone used the brake drums from Ames?

Sorry to get back three years later but I realized I never followed up on my own question.I searched and found four NOS drums from three different vendors on ebay.The drums fit perfectly.Nothing like an old faded torn box!