Ford 9" drum issues

Has anyone else come against the problem of brake drums rubbing against the backing plates?
I've checked bearings and the backing plate for true but am thinking it's offshore crap manufacturing unless someone knows a better reason?
I'm going to get them machined a little tomorrow but just need reassuring.

 

Does your set up have aftermarket parts on it?

 

Everything apart from the backing plate is aftermarket unfortunately.
I've been told by one friend that some drums are quite a way out from stock but would like a second opinion

 

Sounds like your backing plate or drum has the wrong offset for the axles.

 

The front 9" of course.


If its just a little bit id get them machined and be done with it. If its more than 1/8 I'd keep looking

 

Sorry to hear that. It seems aftermarket parts are getting crappier by the year. I prefer the junkyard anymore.

 

There are a few different brake gap dimensions for the Ford 9".

If I recall correctly, the early truck stuff is 1.75, and Early Car stuff is close if not 2".

The later axles the brake gap increases therefore pushing the drum (and wheel) farther outboard. So it is critical to match the axles with the drum AND backing plate. So to answer the question, yes I have run into this before.

 

So have I and your right about the differnt brake offsets

 

The offsets I've heard are 2 1/8" , 2 3/8" and 2 1/2". The narrowest were the first late 50's rears, then 2 3/8" was most common until 2 1/2" with the mid 70's "Torino" late style bearing end.

You could be trying to use a 70's-80's drum on a 60's rear. Only 1/8" difference in offset.

 

Thank Guys...a trip to the parts store is on for tomorrow.

 

Van rear offset are really jacked up! I think you have a bad combination of parts, just my two bits.

 

I had the same problem years ago, all original Ford parts but mismatched, when the lugs were tightened you couldn't roll the car. I ended up making some .080 aluminum spacer plates the size of the axle flanges, installed between the flange and the drum and it solved the problem. You could experiment by placing washers in your studs before installing the drum, find out how thick you would need to get by, if it is only a small amount, make appropriate spacers. Remember the brake drum must register on the axle.

 

Can you figure out how much room you have between the outer edge of the brake shoes and the inside (not the rubbing surface) of the drum? If there is room for the drums to move over you could have the lips of the drum cut down on a brake lathe pretty easily. It's quite possible that you need new/different drums though.

I've got a nine inch out of a F100 or F150 coming with no backing plates that the price was right on that has me wondering now. I'll probably have my buddy watch for a blown up or broken rear end in his wrecking yard to buy for the pieces though.

 

Hey if I was building an all wheel drive hot rod I would run nines on both ends.

Like 31 here if I could cure it with a miner shave I would do that otherwise find some drums that fit correctly.

 

Before doing much machining I'd measure your brake offset. Measure from the outside flange on the axle to the edge of the axle bearing retainer plate. Once you know that, you can check part numbers on stuff to see if they all match your offset.