I need some help on replacing the brake drums on my 444. The cost of replacement front drums is $ 161.55 with a $ 33.00 core charge. I remember before disk brakes came along we used to press out the studs and just put a new drum on the hub. With a core this tells me they are pressing the old one off and re using the hub........ I have been told that the 444 has the same bolt pattern for mounting the wheel as a Ford. Is it possible to use say a Ford Falcon drum on my hubs ? The drum is a 9" by 2" drum and Spending that kind of money on drum brakes really galls me. Has anyone out there found a drum that fits the 444 ? Also I found out if you take your shoes into a machine shop that has done rivited shoes in the past , they can re place the lining for about $ 25.00 instead of the $ 44.00 per axle they charge.
Any help I can get in this matter would be appreciated.