MTFCA Forum

I'm getting a pair of brake drums ready for installation on rebuilt wheels. I'm painting this outside but I'm not sure what to do with the inside (the surface which the brake pads rub on.) These surfaces are primed but one of the drums accumulated some moisture and has some minor surface rust. I'm afraid that the primer on them and any paint I apply will mess up the brake pads. Do I need to sand off the primer and rust? or prep and apply another finish?

I wouldn’t coat the inside of the drum with anything. First time you engage the emergency brakes while the T is rolling the liners will scrape the drums clean of all coatings, including surface rust. You don’t want it too smooth. You want there to be some friction so the brakes will hold and stop the car or hold it in place while cranking. Jim Patrick

Jim, That's what I thought.Thanks for the quick response.

I agree with Jimin. I would add two things. Use some sandpaper and lightly sand the rusted portion. Just enough to remove the surface rust particles. Also, if you are planning to use auxiliary brakes on which the bands wrap around the drums, Clean all paint off the outside of the surface. The face of the drum which faces the wheel should be painted black.
Norm

I agree with Norman,

I had noise coming from both my drums, and I thought I had big problems, turns out it was surface rust on the inside of drum. I lightly sanded rust off.
Problem solved.

Tim