wanting to go from 6 bolt to a 5 on 4 3/4. i picked up some 53 drums and hubs that are the right pattern and they go right on. only problem is that they won't work with the backing plates from the 51. is this fix as simple as getting the 53 backing plates too? anybody done this swap? thanks (not)otis
You tried '53 car drums/hubs on a '51 truck front axle, right? Just clarifying for anyone that might be able to help Otis. Malcolm
are you sure the backing plates are 51? because they should be the same from 51-59, 53 car hubs/drums should go right on the 51 truck. 50 was the last year of the Huck brakes, which use drums with some "fins" on them, and a wide flange at the open end of the drum. if your brakes look like this then they are 1950 or older
I think you'll need to get truck backing plates, if you can't find any let me know, I think I have a pair in the junk pile
those backing plates are different than mine for sure. at some point that 51 must have ended up with an older axle under it. glad to have that cleared up! here are some pictures. the drum on the left is from the 53 car and the one on the right is what came on my front end. (truck) you can see that the truck drum is taller. without that extra depth, the car drum wont get to the backing plate. after looking at the diagram you sent me from the car, it looks like that backing plate will bolt up to my axle and i would think that should fix this. whatch think?
I don't know whether or not the car backing plate will fit the truck spindle, but they do list different part numbers in the parts book for car/truck backing plates. Also your truck hub/drums look kind of funky....I wonder what they're really from?
Otis, I have two sets of backing plates, and I know one set is 54 truck backing plates and the other, I think is 53. I should of just sent the complete 54 front axle, brakes and steering with Ian, that match that steering box. Let me know if you need this shit. My buddy also has a set of sweet (off a raked camaro) 5-4 3/4 15 " Keystone Klassics you would just love, the back ones a even drilled for bead locks, with firestone drag 500's mounted on them. give me a call if you need the axle and brakes. DAVE Hood Ratz!!!
i don't know man. i just assumed it was a 51 chevy truck set up. i took the whole shootin' match off of the original frame myself. it was a runner/driver a week before i took the stuff off. even when i have gone to the parts store to get shoes, bearings, and seals i told them 51 chevy half ton and everything was right. i did get the wrong wheel cylinders from them but they just gave me the wrong part. gotta love the parts store as for you, FARM FRESH, i'll give you a call. i'm sure we'll get this figured out. worst case i put the truck stuff back on, throw some 16'' 6 lugs on it and go. still rather have the keystones, they go better with my 6x9s and air shocks ya know. ian said something about you being in town this weekend, that would be a good way to get those parts to omaha. tell you what, you make the trip over and i'll let you hold a cheeseburger and puke on anything you want. HAHAHAHAHAHHA thanks for the help guys!! -otis HOOD RATZ!!!
is squirrel REALLY the only one out of this entire board that has any input on this? maybe next time i'll start a poll on PBR. squirrel, i'll pop a top for you bro, thanks for your help!
when i installed 54 chevy pass drums on my 551st a few years ago all i had to do was trim some metal away around the inner brg/seal area. the hub would not seat on the brgs till i trimed out some clearance.
did you get this worked out? Do you have some 50 truck brake parts for sale, or can you still take those back? You wouldnt know anything about some Keystones that were stolen a few years ago would ya? I had some that I bought so I could take the tires from and after I had the tires off some one removed them from my back yard. I am not upset about them being gone, just wondering Who would do such a thing.
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