Does anyone have a back issue of Skinned Knuckles #449 (Dec 13) or #450 (Jan 14) it has an article on “steeldraulics”? I would like to have a copy. I had an incident where the breaks on my 614 faded while going downhill and trying to stop. I am looking to adjust or replace the breaks and want to learn as much as I can before starting.
The tech pages on the Durant website are missing some pictures (Fig. S2 S7, S8, S9) that are referenced in the instructions. If anyone knows where to find these it would help!
Thanks – Don

Where Are You From? Port Hueneme, CA

Do You own a car built by Durant? 1930 Durant 6-14 Deluxe Sedan

Hi Don.....

I can scan and send you the 10 pages of instructions on adjusting Steeldraulic brakes that are in my Durant Service Manual.

Should answer most of your questions. Has lots of illustrations also....

Frank ---

Where Are You From? Hookstown Pennsylvania

Do You own a car built by Durant? a bunch

The fading is from our soft old style brake drums. Get a set of the non fade brake drum bands from Macs Model "A" parts supplier 4 bands only little over $100.00 or can buy individually from Snyders model "A" supplier. You have to have these brake drum bands on all older cars to have brake pedal going down hills. Actually very dangerous not to have them. The model "A" band may need to be altered but don't worry any welding shop can install them. Have to have them heat them way up for expansion to get them on. I put 2 bands on each drum on Ricks 29 Roadster and he drives as fast as he wants now and stops on a dime as I do. Course he has the deluxe wire wheels that the drum will take 2 but our wood wheel drums will only take one per drum. And yes the drum has to be taken off the wood wheel. No biggie. And u can use the stock old style cool designed carriage bolts over again. Done it all my life.
Faithfully
Lance Haynes
San Diego

Where Are You From? San Diego, CA

Do You own a car built by Durant? many

Frank: If you would copy and send the info you have to igetnrd@gmail.com I would appreciate it very much.

Lance: I will look into the bands as a safety add-on.

Thanks - Don

Where Are You From? Port Hueneme, CA

Do You own a car built by Durant? 1930 Durant 6-14 Deluxe Sedan

Hi All.....

I have scanned the 10 pages and can email to anyone who would like a copy.

Send me an email and I will attach and return....

Frank ---

Where Are You From? Hookstown Pennsylvania

Do You own a car built by Durant? a bunch

Thanks Frank, I downloaded all 10 pages - Don

Where Are You From? Port Hueneme, CA

Do You own a car built by Durant? 1930 Durant 6-14 Deluxe Sedan

If you can send me that info you have on Steeldraulic brakes, I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks

—Roger

Where Are You From? Scranton, Pa.

I would like a copy Frank , thank you.
Jack Wright

Where Are You From? Ontario

Do You own a car built by Durant? 614 standard sedan

If anyone else would like a copy I can email you a scan from the service manual.
Send me an email and I will reply with the scan attached.
Frank

Where Are You From? Hookstown PA

Do You own a car built by Durant? too many

I would very much like to have the info on Steeldyraulic brake thanks

Where Are You From? ithaca ny

Do You own a car built by Durant? 614 durant ,locomobile jr 8

Don- Did you figure out any way to fit the brake re-enforcing bands to your drums? I ordered the model A bands that Lance recommended from Mac's and they are too big by about 3/4 inch. Before I send them back I would like to know if you found out anything. I guess when they work it's a great improvement. Phil Peters uses them on his 29 and is happy with them. Does that mean that 29s have bigger, better brakes? Horrible! Ross

Where Are You From? Orygun

Do You own a car built by Durant? 1930 6-14

Ross:
I remember that Lance mentioned that the Model A rings are too big and have to be cut down by the welding shop that you are using to install the rings. You have to cut out a piece of the ring and then reweld it together. Then you have to heat the ring and cool the drum to install the ring. Just too bad that you can't order rings the proper size. Let me know how you make out. I know one chap who was able to get an eleven inch ring. He says his brakes are wonderful now. He heated the ring up on the bar b que and had the drum in the freezer overnight. A lot of squeaking when he dropped the ring on the cold drum. (He cleaned the outside of the drums up on the lathe first to make sure it was a nice clean match)

Where Are You From? Guelph, Ontario, Canada

Do You own a car built by Durant? 1932 Frontenac built by Dominion Motors Limited, Leaside, On tario

Ross,

The model A has an 11" "inside diameter" brake drum as does our '28 and '29s...Your steeldraulic brake drums are 11" "outside diameter" That is the reason that Lance mentions in the post above the need to remove a chunk of the bands and weld...Phil on the other hand told me that the bands installed with no need for modification on his '29...I originally thought that the model A bands had to be modified to fit any of our drums was one reason that I machined my own set of ductile iron bands for my '28, with those I machined them to 10 thousands smaller I.D. then the drums and heat them to 500 degrees and installed them with a shrink fit...Not sure how you would cut a chunk from the model A bands and expect to end up with an exact shrink fit unless the bands are machined after or they are capable of stretching somewhat? Lance I am sure would have the answer....I Sand blasted my drums before installing my bands with a fine sand so they would get a good heat transfer and lock.

Where Are You From? Yuma, AZ / Leavenworth, WA

Do You own a car built by Durant? several

Yeah,Bill I was wondering how that was going to work with taking out just enough of these new bands to get a shrink fit on my drums without some machine work to make them round again after you have taken out this precise amount and welded everything back together. My machinist friend is good (part time race car mechanic and fabricator), but it will involve some head scratching. But thanks for the info on what you came up with. Ross

Where Are You From? Orygun

Do You own a car built by Durant? 1930 6-14

Ross:
Sorry about the delay in getting back to you. As you know the bands are too big, I sent mine back and worked on adjusting the breaks to function better. I looked into making some bands to the proper size but the cost was to high. So my solution is defensive driving, down shift early and stay away from steep hills.
Merry Christmas - DJ

Where Are You From? Port Hueneme, California

Do You own a car built by Durant? 1930 Durant deluxe Sedan

Your forgot to add Cross you fingers and pray as with most Durant/Star braking systems in todays world

Where Are You From? Oviedo, Florida

Do You own a car built by Durant? 1928 Durant Model 65 4 door sedan

I would like to get those 10 pages about Steeldraulics that you offered. Call me if you would, to get address and I will pay for mailing costs, etc. 727-327-5717 TYhanks, Ross Nelson

Where Are You From? St. Pete, Florida

Do You own a car built by Durant? Yes, 1930 Durant 614

Ross, I emailed you the brake info. Hope that helps, Frank

Where Are You From? Hookstown, PA

Do You own a car built by Durant? many

Frank
I would love a copy of the replacement brakes / adj.

Where Are You From? Salem, VA

Do You own a car built by Durant? Yes

If you can mail a copy it will be appreciated. Thanks Alan

Where Are You From? UK

Do You own a car built by Durant? YES a D40

Alan I believe you have a Durant D60 series 2 touring with 14L 6 cyl from Africa with a vin plate off a Rugby D40 which is 4 cyl with W5A. The D60 does not have steeldraulic brakes. Those are used on 1930 - 32 Durant car, 1930 - 1933 Rugby truck and 1931 / 32 Frontenac.
The 60 has Four-wheel Bendix mechanical, internal expanding, self-energizing shoe type; 11" brake drums. Easy adjustment.

More info can be found here on your D60. This durantcar used to be on DMAC but luckily the waybackmachine site captured it.

https://web.archive.org/web/20121214011622/http://www.durantcars.com/catalogs/durant/29m60.shtml

Where Are You From? Ottawa Ontario Canada

Do You own a car built by Durant? 1932 614 sedan made by Dominion Motors