Technical Brake interchange???

Ok, so first off... My apologies if this has been asked before. I've done a bunch of searching and had no luck finding results, but I may have looked in the wrong places, so here goes...

I always have several projects going at once, so for this particular project, I am running a traditional model A style front drop axle. My question is regarding brakes.

I have not bought the front spindles yet, but a buddy of mine has just pulled the entire front end off his 1965 mustang. I know the spindles are a no-go, but I was curious if the brake assemblies will fit on any of the model A spindles.

I know these are drum brakes, but this car is going to weigh next to nothing, it's a simple bucket with a 4 banger motor, so drums should work just fine.

I just can't find any information as to whether the backing plates from the mustang, etc. will bolt up to the old style spindles. I'm sure that with the proper bearings, I can make the hubs work, but the brakes are a mystery.

If anyone has done this swap or knows the differences, I'd greatly appreciate any input.

Thanks

 

There's a reason you are not finding any info on Mustang drum brakes for a straight axle.....
Personally I think it makes no sense to use that stuff when there is so much better stuff that fits.
Lincoln....
39- 48 Ford
F1
F100
I'm sure there's more.

Fairlane, Falcon. Mustang.... Nope.

 

I hear ya, it's just a budget build and the parts would be free, so I thought it was worth checKing.

 

The essence of hot rodding... These are free, can I make them work? Admittedly, this has resulted in some gawd-awful messes on occasion, but every once in a while a 'new truth' emerges.

Good candidates for looking at; Ford used those on virtually all their V8 intermediates from '62 into the early '70s, so parts are common and easily available. Smaller and lighter than the choices F-One listed, they should be more than adequate for a lighter car. I suspect the major obstacle will be the bolt pattern that attaches the backing plate to the spindle, as Ford 'shrunk' that post-'48 on the cars. I doubt they'll bolt on, so the question becomes 'how much work do I want to do to make them fit?' Backing plates and spindles have been modified before...

 

That was my thought, thanks and merry Christmas.

 

For simplicity and cost, I think it's better to go with early Ford stuff.

Things like this decide the direction of the build.
For instance , if you were using a later Ford Rear axle with 5x4.5... maybe it's worth pursuing. This changes to more of a 60s or later build.

Personally for me... I would use 1930s 1940s parts throughout.
That stuff is not that expensive. (Used stock stuff... not hot rod in a box) It's just time consuming to find it. In the end it may be cheaper than modifying later parts. Sometimes fabricating and adapting can Nickle and dime you to death. Sometimes adapting free stuff costs more.

 

If the parts are free then your only investment is time. And it shouldn't take much of that to see if it is viable. I can't remember which one, but one of the major bearing manufacturers has all the bearing and race dimensions on their website so its just a matter of OD, ID and height to play mix and match.

 

Lol. We would all be repeatedly profusing apologies as I am sure most questions have been asked more than a time or two. Never hurts to bring up a question, it renews my old noggin.

 

Nothing is a bolt on especially if you use Model A spindles. The Mustang brakes can be adapted and should be not much harder to adapt than most other brake setups.

If I did not have spindles I would actually be looking for round back spindles as opposed to Model A spindles, they are easier to find brake kits for.

 

There’s a lot of difference in price and availability of old Ford hydraulic brake parts depending on where you live. Sometimes buying new reproduction parts is cheaper in the long run. You can only rebuild wheel cylinders so many times.

 

At last year's Springfield swap meet I bought an excellent pair of 40 spindles for around $25. I've found 40 Ford brakes down there for reasonable prices too. Make sure you are at this swap early next year. (We get there at the crack of dark)

 

Had 53-6 Ford brakes on my 32 with an 8 inch rear end. Panic stop the tires would slide.

 

You might want to take this over to fordbarn. Although it is a restoration site they do a lot of hydraulic brake conversions. I think they will agree with me when I say the most common conversion is to the '39-'48 brakes (using the '40-'48 drums) and stock Model A spindles. They are a bolt on with a minor amount of file work on the bolt holes and a conversion kit that usually costs less than $30. You should ask there which vender is supplying the best kit as quality varies. The reproduction Lincoln Bendix style are a step up from the Ford Lockheed design. I believe they are available with the smaller bolt pattern that bolts right on to the Model A spindles. I assume there is still a bearing spacer required that should be available to the supplier of the reproduction brakes. These are the two most straight forward approaches. Some people use the F1 truck brakes but they create a problem if you are using wire wheels. My guess would be that trying to use the Mustang brakes would be asking for trouble. If they were an easy solution there would be a lot of people doing it but I have never heard of anybody doing it. Good luck.

Charlie Stephens

 

all true words above, and besides that, disk brakes suck

 

thanks guys for all the input. I'll let ya know what I end up doing.