Brake Cover?

[loustaller]

Does anyone know the back story on aluminum brake drum covers? Were they used to protect the brake drum from mud build up while hill climbing or to cover the wimpy small brake drums?

IMG_8099.jpg (74.04 KiB) Viewed 1628 times

[Steve Simmons]

The covers I've seen for various cars were intended to dress up the brake drum, usually to make it look like aluminum.

[loustaller]

The set I have are a heavy gauge aluminum. When I first put them on in their raw aluminum finish I didn't care for the way they looked but now painted a satin black to match the wheel I kind of like the look. I intend to power coat or paint the wheels, drums and these discs a dark green to match the body color. I can always color match them and see how I like them and if I don't I'll just take them off and put them on a shelf. Even with converted Datsun finned aluminum drums fitted the drums looks sooooo small behind the large wheel. The 13" disc fills up the 19" wheel making it all look more proportionate.

[Steve Simmons]

Years back, I installed Alfin drums on my TC. I hated the silver look because the lack of contrast made the spokes disappear. I painted them a semi-gloss black and liked it much better.

The heavy gauge of your covers is odd. Maybe they were meant to be a heat sink?

[loustaller]

The cover thickness is approx 1/8". I don't know what their original purpose was but I think they do change the side look of the car. Usefulness I don't know, ascetically I like them!

[loustaller]

The cover thickness is approx 1/8". I don't know what their original purpose was but I think they do change the side look of the car. Usefulness I don't know, ascetically I like them!