Norton Dominator brake pads

[69Norton]

I was wondering if someone could perhaps point me in the right direction here.

On my front twin leading drum Brake, Ive only got 2-3mm left at best on the current pads. They look to have been riveted on using brass rivets? Assuming this is how they used to do it?

What are my options here - do I need to drill them out to get them off? (I have only ever replaced Car brake pads)

thanks
Paul

[Ixion]

Yes, riveted was old school. Either drill the rivets out , or nip the rears off with a small sharp cold chisel.

Avoid breathing dust from the linings, they may be abestos based.

If new linings are drilled for rivets, rivet them up in the usual fashion (you should get rivets with the linings - you will need a rivet set) . If the new linings are not drilled, it is best to take shoes and linings to a brake specialist and have the linings bonded on.

(Pads is for disk brakes, linings for drums)

[Motu]

You might be able to find some riveted linings on some classic bike site....and then you will need a rivet punch to set the rivets.Not hard if you spent years doing them like me....but doing a good job of it these days if you've never done it might be another story.

Better to take it into a brake specialist and get them to bond on a set of linings and then radius them to your wheel.Autostop,BNT or Sterling Clutch and Brake would be my options.

[Ixion]

You might be able to find some riveted linings on some classic bike site....and then you will need a rivet punch to set the rivets.Not hard if you spent years doing them like me....but doing a good job of it these days if you've never done it might be another story.

..

Assuming of course that you could FIND said rivet set tool. Haven't seen mine in years. Not really hard if you have the right tool.

But riveted brake (and clutch) linings are a rare sight nowadays.

[Paul in NZ]

Or call the guys at British Spares and they will send you a new set of bonded linings.

The new, non asbestos linings are a bit less effective (yes, hard to believe) but do the job provided you set the brake up properly.

Radiusing them to your drum is a good idea but frankly the 17 yr old guys at your local brake place will probably just look at you wierd and make excuses...

[Motu]

Assuming of course that you could FIND said rivet set tool. Haven't seen mine in years. Not really hard if you have the right tool.

But riveted brake (and clutch) linings are a rare sight nowadays.

Still have mine,but haven't used them in 20 odd years.Still have some lining clamps too - they would hold the lining on the shoe while you worked your way around the shoe.On larger car and truck shoes it was hard to hold it all together with one hand.

The Yanks rivet brake pads!!! Checking for noise in a Cavalier I saw there was plenty of meat on the lining,but big grooves in the rotor - pulling the pads out I found they were riveted,grooved the rotors like rivets did to drums in the old days.Yanks have always struggled with modern technology.

[Voltaire]

Or call the guys at British Spares and they will send you a new set of bonded linings.

The new, non asbestos linings are a bit less effective (yes, hard to believe) but do the job provided you set the brake up properly.

Radiusing them to your drum is a good idea but frankly the 17 yr old guys at your local brake place will probably just look at you wierd and make excuses...

Sad but probably true....I think my tradesman used to say that about me...whilst telling me stories of chasing the Desert Fox across North Africa...he was a whizz at overhauling rotary telephone exchange ringer motors. At the time there was only one left in Auckland, at Mt Eden....get a nice cup of coffee there now

[Voltaire]

I took a Chaing Jaiing front wheel into Sterling Clutch and Brake a few years ago, they do a lot of old cars as the guy there is a vintage car buff.
The skimmed the hub and sized the new pads to suit.
Not a 17 year old in sight all old buggers.
They made me up a set of stainless lines for my Duke on a Saturday morning....while I waited!!!!!!

[Motu]

That's Ollie - they did my XS1 front brake,radiused the new bonded linings to the old drum,makes a hell of a difference.He caused me some headaches over the years....sometimes I refused to deal with him - but if I was ever in trouble with something really oddball,Ollie was the man.

My wife used to work in rotary exchanges - she's not that old! The story was that the ship bringing parts for the rotary exchanges was sunk in WWII,so they just had to wing it for a few decades.

[twotyred]

My wife used to work in rotary exchanges - she's not that old! The story was that the ship bringing parts for the rotary exchanges was sunk in WWII,so they just had to wing it for a few decades.

There was some rotary still in operation at lower hutt exch up until 1987.
there was only one chap there,in his mid 60's,who knew how to maintain it,it was fascinating stuff.