Hello, I’m new to this forum here, I have a technical question for the blacksmiths on here. So I am working on a 4wd JDM truck, and one of the front brake drums blew out. Apparently, that part had been discontinued. After calling around, I found a place that could get them, but they were made in a third world country. Long story short, waited about a year, got them in, only to find out that the 4wd splines on the drum were not hardened. It blew out again really quick. So I need to harden them somehow. I’m not sure if its grey or ductile iron. My first thought was a cheap induction gun, I could fit it in the spline hole. Followed up by a few oil quenches. Then the risk there is cracking or stressing it. I also have no way to read the hardness. At this point, I will just ship them anywhere to someone who knows what they are doing. Any advice? I will add pictures as soon as I can figure out how to do that.
So much depends on the quality of the castings. I suspect that will be your limiting factor. Check with a shop that can do vacuum nitriding.
Did you put bigger tires on it? I’ve heard that is the kiss of death for those little trucks. They just were not designed for any extra loading.
Maybe change the design to a steel hub with a cast drum? Or even a disc brake conversion? There are a bunch of off road shops that make all kinds of high strength setups these days.
Thanks so much! I will have to find a shop that can do vacuum nitriding. No, it has the stock tires on it. Someone (not me) messed with the front end and didn’t assemble it properly leading to the drum splines breaking. I did look into a disc brake conversion, of course they don’t make it for my truck. I appreciate the reply!