One piece axle upgrade. Now drums are rattling.

[ColeTrickle]

Has anyone experienced this?


I didn't replace the stock factory screws that attach the drum to the axle since there was no provisions in the new axles.
My rear drums are rattling around on the lugs from what I can tell. I've torqued down the lug nuts thinking that would stop the rattling. I've also readjusted the rear brakes thinking that the shoes would quiet and keep the drum still.
Theres only about maybe a 1/8th of an inch of play in the holes in the drum and the lugs on the axle.
Maybe my drums are at the end of their life and are in need of replacing.

Thoughts?

 

[Lumpy Grits]

Sounds like the drums are not seating against the face of the axle's flange.
DON'T DRIVE IT!
Are you sure the correct length lug bolts were installed? The lug nuts could be bottoming out, if the bolts are to long.
LG

 

[Hedgehog]

Is the center hole in your drum large enough? I experienced something similar when changing out my bent Dana 44 axles. the center indexing ring had been dinged (the metal on stock axles is softer than you'd think) so the drum wouldn't seat and you couldn't get it to seat either. I ended up cleaning up the dings with a Dremel tool and a file, easy fix once I figured it out. Also as Lumpy suggested, the lugs might have a long base that isn't letting your drums seat.

 

[ColeTrickle]

I never thought about the lug nuts not being long enough. I'll check that once I get back to it.

Thanks for the replies!
Much appreciated.

 

[Hedgehog]

The base might actually be too long. If it comes through the backing plate enough the drum won't seat properly. Keep it simple. If your drum is actually rattling something is keeping the wheel from properly sandwiching the drum between the wheel flange and the wheel itself.