Interchangeable brakes on what year Chevy rears?

Im swapping my stock rear set-up on my 54 Chevy for a open drive 56 chevy rear. The 56 I got came with some crusty drums and backing plates. I was wondering if the backing plates, all brake hardware and drum from my 54 would bolt right up to the 56 rear? How late do do these rears run with interchangeble parts? I went looking for some axle seals (figure i may as well replace them while its apart) today for the 56 and couldnt find them, what else would work? Just any Chevy rear up to 62? Thanks!

 

I used a 57' n had no problems finding parts...U might try and go to parts store and do some diggn and find out what part no's are used up to 62. They should be that same...been a while, so I could be wrong.

 

napa has all you need in stock.

 

54 and 56 car brake parts should be the same. They went to wider shoes in 58 I think...

seals will be different between 54 and newer cars.

I think the backing plates were riveted on in 54, they are different

 

If the backing plates aren't damaged except being crusty I'd haul them in and the drums if they will turn ok and have them blasted in a bead cabinet at the machine shop.
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The Wagner brake book that I have shows that Chevrolet went to a wider (2") shoe in 1959; 51-58 used a 1 3/4" wide shoe on the rear, the fronts were 2" wide. It also shows that they used the same rear drum from 51-70, a BD60001 drum; it was also used on the front front 51-58. This same part number was used on other models as well.

http://www.classicchevy.com/product.asp?pf_id=20-27&dept_id=1052

 

That link says '55-'70, what gives? If the earlier ones interchange, then I am surprised. But on the other hand; I've never caught Jim Forbes in a lie!

 

Cool, thanks for the info guys. The brake hardware on my 54 are practically new, only drove bout a year before ripping it apart. The 56 backing plates are just dirty, but the drums I got with it are damn near trash. Sounds like I can at least throw everything in front of the backing plate from my 54 on the 56 rear.

Squirrel- I need the axle seals for the 56 rear, would the 56 rear be considered a "newer" car? For some reason I thought I read somewhere that most parts are fairly interchangeable from 55-62, but I have no idea if thats reliable or reputable information. Thanks!

 

I just included the link as a source for drums, that sells 55-57 Chev parts. The rest of the information came out of a Wagner brake parts catalog.