1997 XJ 4.0L, 8.25 rear, 156k miles. The brake shoes have never been replaced. I'm looking up parts and it seems that 9" and 10" hardware kits kits are offered (Rock-auto).

Which one do I get?

I want to replace the whole drum brake to include the drum, basically freshen everything up. Both rear wheels have been soaked in swamp water many times and sometimes left over night in the hole.

Can I take the wheel off and measure across the drum or would I not be able to get an accurate measurement from that?

Daily driver, so I don't want to take everything apart to measure, then retrieve the parts.

 

If you take the wheel off the drum should slide right off.

 

My drums have the size stamped on them. Actually it's a "maximum size" but that will tell you if you have 9 or 10" brakes. I believe the stamping is on the inside of the drum.

 

If the drums has "fins" it is size 10"

if it is smooth size 9"

 

Exactly right!

 

Sounds good. Do you know what the purpose of the fins are? Cooling or something?

 

If I am not mistaken they are cooling fins. I do know that the 10" drums with the fins came on the XJ's with the police package and the heavy duty tow package.

 

Can I switch between the two?

 

If you had a 10" backing plate to go with the drum and hardware.