"Chipped" Drum Brake

[timtimtimajim]

I was underneath the Ex today and noticed that one of my drum brakes is chipped. Looks like it's been this way for a long time. It's just on the outside lip of the drum and is not interfering with braking.

The drums are still within the tolerable thickness. Should I be concerned about this and replace? Or is it fine to keep using this drum until it wears out?

 

[Number4]

Something hit it just right. It'll be unbalanced and could cause vibration, but if you haven't noticed any yet, just leave it.

 

[timtimtimajim]

No vibrations luckily. The drum does have some kind of weights on it so it may be in balance. I have a feeling the last time the brakes were done the mechanic may have chipped the drum.

 

[FR-425]

Fell of the jack stands maybe?

 

[malohnes]

I chipped mine years ago because I didn't back off the tensioner enough when pulling the drums off and whacked them with a rubber mallet to free them up. I did the exact same thing to mine that your photo shows. I was told my an old timer mechanic that its not good, but not catastrophic. He suggested to replace them sooner than later as the chip will put stress cracks in the rest of the drum and could cause failure of the brakes if they heat up real good.

 

[timtimtimajim]

I know I haven't done that. But it's possible someone else did. My parents never did any work on the vehicle themselves, my guess would be some mechanic at some point.