Brake drum gasket: Needed or Not?

swampy_swimmer

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I just ordered new set of rear barakes (everything), but nowhere was mentioned this gasket on pic.
And I'm pretty sure I didn’t see it when I took my existing drums off to check the conditions.
So, is it needed? Where to get?

Thanks.
 

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Not needed. I've taken rear drums off lots of these rigs and I've never seen the gasket pictured in this parts schematic. Weird.
 
I never had one. I do now. They're like 2 bucks at the dealership and if it helps stop the drum from seizing to the hub that's pretty cheap insurance.
 
I never had one. I do now. They're like 2 bucks at the dealership and if it helps stop the drum from seizing to the hub that's pretty cheap insurance.

Very interesting. I've used anti-seize on the axle face to facilitate easier drum removal in the future. I might have to score me some of these gaskets.
 
Very interesting. I've used anti-seize on the axle face to facilitate easier drum removal in the future. I might have to score me some of these gaskets.

That's what I've always done too (and wire wheel), but last time I had it apart I noticed it on the parts diagram and figured might as well.
 
I attempted to order these gaskets once and the store said they were discontinued.
 
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I attempted to order these gaskets once and the store said they were discontinued.

They were still available on March 19th of this year!

4244435050 GASKET, BRAKE DRUM (FOR REAR AXLE) 2 $1.61

Edit- you could easily make a set with the side of a cereal box. They're nothing fancy.
 
They were on my 96 @74k miles when I bought it, first brake job screwed em up, wire brushed remains of gasket off. 18 yr no problems. Would say if you want them can't get em make out of heavy paper using brake drum and ball pein hammer.
 
I spent a bit of time thinking about this gasket when doing my axle seals last week. It's purpose is not to stop the drum sticking. It is there to keep gear oil out of the brake drum.

The outer axle seal is there to direct oil out of the ABS cavity and into the oil slinger on the back of the axle flange. The oil slinger sends the oil out a little hole in the front of the axle flange that lines up with holes in the brake drum. IF this gasket is in place the oil will end up on the OUTSIDE of the brake drum not inside it! It's a clever as F**k design when you think about it. In theory if this system is all in place you could have a axle seal failure and you would see the oil coming out the front of the brake drum not from the inside. It's a bit hard to put in words but if you have the parts on your hands as I did last week you can see how it is designed to work.

I'm ordering 2.
 
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I spent a bit of time thinking about this gasket when doing my axle seals last week. It's purpose is not to stop the drum sticking. It is there to keep gear oil out of the brake drum.

The outer axle seal is there to direct oil out of the ABS cavity and into the oil slinger on the back of the axle flange. The oil slinger sends the oil out a little hole in the front of the axle flange that lines up with holes in the brake drum. IF this gasket is in place the oil will end up on the OUTSIDE of the brake drum not inside it! It's a clever as F**k design when you think about it. In theory if this system is all in place you could have a axle seal failure and you would see the oil coming out the front of the brake drum not from the inside. It's a bit hard to put in words but if you have the parts on your hands as I did last week you can see how it is designed to work.

I'm ordering 2.

At first I was thinking, what the hell is he talking about. But, I gave it some thought and it makes sense what you're saying now. I always thought that outer rubber seal near the bearing was just to keep brake dust from accumulating against the face of the bearing. But, you're saying it's there to direct gear oil into that flange on the back side of the axle face and then the oil will go through a hole in the axle face and out the brake drum because the gasket is sealing the brake drum to the face of the axle. Toyota did all that to keep the brake shoes from being contaminated with gear oil in case an axle seal failed. Very interesting. Learn something new everyday.
 
At first I was thinking, what the hell is he talking about.

I sat looking at those axle seals and pieces for a while wondering why Toyota built them that way. It makes sense to me and I see no other reason for all those elaborate parts.
 
I sat looking at those axle seals and pieces for a while wondering why Toyota built them that way. It makes sense to me and I see no other reason for all those elaborate parts.

I had noticed the oil path when I had it apart but never made the connection to the gasket. Good observation!
 
I used anti-seize per advice I was given on here, my 2001 had no such gaskets when I did the rear brakes.
 

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