Evening all,

Need help as I'm not mechanically minded so any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I have brake drums on my buggy and recently when I was putting my front offside wheel back on, one of the nuts tightened to its max but then when I was torque wrenching it, it just started spinning.

I've since removed all bolts and managed to gently coax the spinning one off, it appears that it's not actually the bolt as when I tried the same bolt directly into the drum in the remaining holes it worked perfectly fine but other bolts also didn't work in the same problematic hole in the drum.

I'm presuming the thread has gone in that particular hole, would that mean that I need to purchase a new drum?

Many thanks

a simple look inside the threaded hole will see any damage compared to the other 3 or 4 holes and a new drum is the only way you are better off replacing the bolt too, How tight were you trying to do them.

I recommend that you replace both drums and fit new shoes to prevent any brake imbalance that can occur.

We were told to torque to 115

90ft/lb for four bolt, 72ft/lb for five bolt.

What's that in Newton?
I have 5 bolts

I just googled it and it said 97, a tyre garage told me 115 so sounds like that was too tight?
Do you really think both drums would need replacing?

What's that in Newton?
I have 5 bolts

Tyre places are notorious for over torquing bolts and nuts.

wide 5 drums only have 12mm bolts so 72 lbs or 97Nm later 14mmbolts are 90lbs ft or 122 Nm.  in the real world one drum is fine just bed the brakes in when you first drive.
Technically best practice is to replace a pair.

Do you think I'd need to replace the shoes also?

Do you think I'd need to replace the shoes also?

If you replace drums you should really replace the shoes as well so they bed in together. If only one thread is stripped I would tap it out to a size bigger (14mm) and fit a bigger (late Beetle maybe) wheel bolt. The bolt may need cutting shorter to clear the brake mechanism though.

Best engineering practice does not go hand in hand with cheap motoring, a garage would want to change both drums all new wheel bearings, wheel bolts and mew brake shoes for one damaged thread so a £60 drum and bolt is then over £200 in parts alone.

What would you do Snnopy based on what you just said?

My two pennorth

It's brakes so do it properly, if it was the back then you could get away with one new drum (although I wouldn't do it) but as it is front you need both working well as a matched pair. Also it's your steering. Lose a back wheel and it's bad, lose a front and it's lethal

2 drums and new shoes
Do it once and properly