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Technical 1959 Ford 9 inch brakes

Discussion in 'Traditional Hot Rods' started by Hawaiifive-0, Aug 15, 2015.

  1. Hawaiifive-0
    Joined: Aug 10, 2015
    Posts: 8

    Hawaiifive-0

    I have a 1959 9 inch Ford rear axle that has no brake drums on it. The axle offset is about 2 1/8 if an inch by my measurement. What is the easiest swap to a more common rear brake drum/shoe combination?
     
  2. krylon32
    Joined: Jan 29, 2006
    Posts: 10,385

    krylon32
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Nebraska
    1. Central Nebraska H.A.M.B.

    Before new rear ends and brakes were available I used to cut down 57/59 rears for my chassis business and used 60/64 11X2 1/2 in brakes on my chassis. They were easy to find then but I don't know about now.
     
  3. Hawaiifive-0
    Joined: Aug 10, 2015
    Posts: 8

    Hawaiifive-0

  4. Hnstray
    Joined: Aug 23, 2009
    Posts: 12,355

    Hnstray
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Quincy, IL

    I'm thinking there are only two brake offset dimensions for 9" Ford......2 3/8" and 2 1/2".

    Speedway Motors have a diagram in their catalog, should be available online too, for measurement criteria.

    Ray
     
  5. seb fontana
    Joined: Sep 1, 2005
    Posts: 9,063

    seb fontana
    Member
    from ct

    OP should post the bearing OD.
     
  6. Hawaiifive-0
    Joined: Aug 10, 2015
    Posts: 8

    Hawaiifive-0

    Bearing is about 3 1/8 inch. Has part # 88128 on it. American bearing co
     
  7. gimpyshotrods
    Joined: May 20, 2009
    Posts: 24,311

    gimpyshotrods
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    If I remember correctly, the frist-generation 9" is a mix of brake offset and bearing size, not found in later units.

    I was working on a '57 9" and had to mix two Willwood kits to make it work.
     
  8. big duece
    Joined: Jul 28, 2008
    Posts: 6,959

    big duece
    Member
    from kansas

    I thought those 2" offset brakes were unique to the axle offset. Moving up to later model brakes would require changing axles too??
     
  9. Hawaiifive-0
    Joined: Aug 10, 2015
    Posts: 8

    Hawaiifive-0

    I definitely don't want to change the axles.
     
  10. onetrickpony
    Joined: Sep 21, 2010
    Posts: 832

    onetrickpony
    Member
    from Texas

    I put a small bearing 9" in place of 2 different 8" rears and both times the brakes from the smaller rear fit like it was made for it. The only down side at all is that they were 10x1.75.
     
  11. krylon32
    Joined: Jan 29, 2006
    Posts: 10,385

    krylon32
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Nebraska
    1. Central Nebraska H.A.M.B.

    The 57/59 rears and the 60/64 rears have the same bearing offset.
     
  12. There was a 2 1/4" offset in 68-71 F100/150 Ford 4x2 rears.
    I was lucky enough to get one of those odd balls !
     
  13. deathrowdave
    Joined: May 27, 2014
    Posts: 4,639

    deathrowdave
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from NKy

    I'm thinkin that the offset for wider binders is built into the backing plates of the wider ones .
     
  14. krylon32
    Joined: Jan 29, 2006
    Posts: 10,385

    krylon32
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Nebraska
    1. Central Nebraska H.A.M.B.

  15. I have a big bearing '57-'58 9", this originally had 11"x2" brakes. I read somewhere on the HAMB that
    re-drilled early F-100 front drums would work with a centering ring on the pilot; but when I experimented with the pieces I found the drums were not deep enough. Played around with some other parts and ended up using re-drilled F-1 front drums and 1-3/4" shoes. Had to use a centering ring on the pilot and trim a little off the drum flange to make it work. I also have a '59 small bearing rear that originally had 11" x 1-3/4", playing with the parts it looks like this set up is where the early F-100 drum would work.
    Neither of these set-ups would be economical unless you had the stuff laying around, which I did; so it worked out in my case.
    There was another thread on here that outlined how to install later 10" brakes from a Lincoln; but that was limited to small bearing rears.
    They do make repop drums for either width brakes; but they are pricey, and many times out of stock.
    They are full cast drums and I have read they are not real concentrically cast.
    Best bet may be to switch to some early '60's big car backing plates as the drums are still available for those in replacement parts market.
     
    Hnstray likes this.
  16. Hawaiifive-0
    Joined: Aug 10, 2015
    Posts: 8

    Hawaiifive-0

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