Rear drum dust caps

Post by **alex_holden** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 7:47 pm

I bought and fitted a pair of these items from ESM, which they advertise as "Dust Cap for Rear Brake Drum" because when I bought the car it didn't have any dust caps fitted. I just took one of my rear wheels off and the dust cap was missing. It was inside the drum.

On closer inspection it's obvious why it happened - there's simply no room between the drum and the wheel for a plug that sticks out like that, and the wheel had pushed it through the hole.

The manual shows a different design of plug which doesn't stick up like that. Any idea where I can buy a pair?

Post by **alex_holden** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 8:10 pm

Actually, I take that back. I've just noticed that there's an indentation in the back of the wheel such that one of the four possible ways to fit the wheel won't push the plug through. Hmm... not exactly obvious.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 8:35 pm

Absolutely no need for these - in fact some drill holes in the drums to let extra air circulate for cooling purposes. Early wheels had holes that matched up with the adjuster holes- hence on rallies I could nip out and click up a loose adjuster at each control while my navvy worked out the route to the next control. Very handy.

Post by **alex_holden** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 8:45 pm

Why were they fitted as standard if they don't do anything useful?

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 9:24 pm

I guess because with the older wheels - with the adjuster hole in them - water could get in - and brake dust out! They did away with the holes - and so no need for the plugs.