Previous owner knew nothing about replacing brakes as both primary shoes are on one side and secondaries on the other. Now there are deep grooves in the backing plate. Can a noob at welding just fill the grooves with a mig and then grind them smooth? Don't want new shoes to end up like these.
DO NOT USE BRAKE CLEAN to clean the backing plate before welding! Brake Clean and welding creates a toxic gas. Do a thread search for more information. KK
I wanted to weld them without removing from the axle, but upon closer inspection, I see almost all 6 pads on both sides are grooved to some extent and the axle seals while not actively leaking do have an ac***ulation of wet grease so I'll have to remove the axles anyway to replace the seals. If so, might as well get some good junkyard plates for under $10 each instead of trying to weld and grind each pad.
Your backing plates look like '57 ish 9". Junkyard replacements will have the same wear pattern. Pretty standard for 60 year old backing plates. Look close when you go to the junk yard, yours may be better.
Getting the back in shape isn't as hard as it sounds once you get started on them. As the guys said NO brake clean and most likely any you find that fit need work too,
unless you live next door to the junk yard you could weld and grind those and be done before you even get to the yard. looks like a simple project to me.
Used extensively by people who can't weld Weld them up and grind them down and be done with it a simple fix way easier than trying to find replacements.
Check the price on new backing plates. It may not be worth the bother of sandblasting welding grinding and painting if you can just buy new ones.
I have welded up a lot of them. Ford 9" brake parts are getting scarce and expensive. There are two kinds of spray brake cleaner, buy the one that says non-chlorinated on the label. The residue left by the chlorinated stuff gives off toxic gases when heated by welding. It can kill you.
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