I need 2 new front brake drums for my roadster. I believe it's a model A front end with hydraulic brakes. The adjustment on the backing plate is not a "star" wheel at the bottom but two bolts , about 3/4", that you turn to move the shoes. The drum itself has the studs in it , 5 by 5.5, and there is a raised section in the center where the wheel bearings go. Who makes these please? Thanks
by your description, I believe you have 40--48 brakes. If that's correct (need pics), Midwest Early Ford, Mac's or several other "old Ford" supply houses. The drums run @ $100 or so each and are swedged to the hub.
If your backing plates look like the ones on the top they are '39-'42. If they look like the ones on the bottom they are '46-'48. This is important if you are ordering the parts that are attached to the backing plate. The hub/drum assemblies interchange '40-'48. The '39 drum is a 5 on 10 1/4 bolt pattern ("wide five"). The '46-'48 drums will probably have welded on weights that will interfere with the '28-'35 wire wheels. The weights will need to be removed to run wire wheels if they interfere. It is easy to tell the year of the drums/hubs because the hub is on the inside of the drum '40-'42 and the outside '46-'48. Remember that you need to run adapters if you use '28-'35 (and Kelsey's) wire wheels (see http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/40-ford-wheels-on-a-model-a.750368/#post-8330045 ) I don't know the current market but it used to be better to buy useable hub/drum assemblies rather than replace the drums. Replacing the drums requires a very large press, special tools and someone that knows what they are doing.
There are 2 different types, hub mounts inside drum ( I'm led to beleave this is 42-48)and hub mounts outside drum ( I'm led to believe this is 40-42). As far as I can work out I don't think you can get drums for the hub mounted outside but you can change hubs and all (inside mounting hubs are available) to the inside mounted if you have the other. Charlie I was led to believe the drum is not interchageable without changing the hub ?
You are correct. I meant to say the hub/drum assemblies are interchangeable '40-'48. Ford only stocked hub/drum assemblies and I got sloppy in my thinking. Charlie Stephens
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