Rear Brake Drums and Replacement Wheels

[recomer]

Just something to think about when replacing your factory Eagle wheel. Have not seen this mentioned anywhere else on the Nest/Den so wanted to bring it up. The back drums have three screws with heads protruding about 3/16" from the drum that WILL interfere with a non-Eagle wheels ability to sit flat against the drum. Their specific purpose isn't really known (answers of used to keep the drum from falling off during assembly, used to keep drum on the hub should wheel separate from vehicle are just two of them) but they will prevent an aftermarket, or a Jeep Cherokee wheel from sitting flush with the drum. Suggestions have been made from replacing them with countersunk bolts to just removing them or drilling out space on back of wheels to allow wheels to fit have been discussed on the Facebook page. Looking for comments here as to why are they really there, have you replaced your drums with aftermarket one and if so, do they have the holes in them (be specific as to what brand drums or where you got them if possible), and if in the process of maintenance of your Eagle, did you just remove and toss them. 

One observation concerning the bolts. They are not placed symmetrically (120 degrees apart). Two of them are 72 degrees apart and the other is 144 degrees from those.

[vangremlin]

I've had several vehicles that originally came with those bolts.  I can't say for certain what their purpose was.  Often times they were gone by the time I got the car.  If they were still there when I re-did the brakes, I have left them off and have not encountered any problems.

[IowaEagle]

The reasons are still unknown.  I like to believe they were there to keep the drum from coming off when the wheel was removed.  We all have had wheels stuck to the drum and if the were not there the possibility of the drum coming off during a routine tire change was possible.

[recomer]

Odd too that the parts manual doesn't show them.

[IowaEagle]

In the earlier manual you have to go down to the parts listing to see them.  The 84- 88 manual shows them clearly.

[rmick]

I believe they were there to hold the drum in place during assembly. As the car rolled down the line the axle assemblies would have been shipped in from assembly some where else complete with brakes  and stored near the instalation point on the line. Then installed on the line with the wheels to be installed at a different point in the line. I have other vehicles that use counter sink scews to hold the drum in place. You wouldn't want to have to go chasing after a drum that inadvertently fell off in shipping or instillation. Once the wheel is installed they are not needed.

[recomer]

In the earlier manual you have to go down to the parts listing to see them.  The 84- 88 manual shows them clearly.

Part number 5..shows X3. Thanks IowaEagle.  So that supports the fact they are there for more than just keeping the drums on the hubs during assembly. I still need to either remove them or find a way to install flush head screws in them in order to get the Cherokee wheel flush with the hub.

[Amc1320]

I just took them off  when I put jeep wheels on my eagle. On a lot of AMC's I have had thru the years they were missing anyway. Once the lugs are in place I can't see where they would be doing anything to hold the drum in place.

I do however always place the drum on so the holes line up in case it was a balance thing, but maybe that's just being superstitious

[carnuck]

They are even offset so there is no balance issues

[profeagle]

I am thinking the bolts might give an edge if a wheel was to come off, of course you would stop pretty fast and probably skid around, but at least you have brakes. LOL.