At some point Ford decided to change the center hole of their brakes from 2 7/16" to somewhere around 2 4/5". Lots of later cars have brake drums that are the same or similar sizes to the earlier car, just with a larger center hole. Often the price difference between the two can be quite significant though as those later drums can be much cheaper. I've searched high and low for a spacer or sleeve of some sort to make late drums work on early axles. In an old HAMB thread, http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=362935&highlight=brake+drum+center , I did find someone who solved the problem as I perceive it. The spacers that 19Fordy made are exactly what I'm looking for. I actually find it kind of surprising that they aren't a stock part from any of the hotrod, muscle car, whatever parts houses.
I guess the question here is does anyone know of an off the shelf item that works? A Grainger part number maybe?
those spacer rings? you will probably have to make them , not a big deal on a lathe...i'd have them done before you can hang up the phone
Trouble I run into with any one off fabricated bit is unless I know someone with the tools it always turns into time consuming an expensive. I've got the once bitten twice shy kid of thing going on there. Too many times I'ce heard yeah, go to the machine shop, they can do it in an afternoon for twenty bucks. Three weeks and four hundred bucks later I have my part that still isn't quite right. ****s being new in town and not being in with useful people.
Post where you are in GA, and I am sure someone can direct you to a competent machine shop, not too far away.
So I got the spacers from 19Fordy. With them Ranger drums fit quite nicely in my axles! Whoopie! I'll post pictures when I have some more time.
FWIW I pulled the entire brake mechanism of a 1995 Ranger. Backing plates fit nicely after m***aging the holes a bit. I went ahead and got all new bits from NAPA. The drums had smaller center holes and wouldn't fit! My NAPA guy figure out that my junkyard drum was from a 98 or so truck, ordered those and thy fit perfect on the spacer! Yay!
The center hold, AFAIK, is clearance to the hub and I'm not sure why you'd need a spacer. The center hole was increased in size to accomodate the larger hub on disc brakes. The lug nuts center the wheel. Am I incorrect? Just asking.
For my purpose it was to center the drum so I could use '90s drums on a '70s axle. Also has the side benefit of keepin my wheels hub centric as I'm running wheels of the same era as the drums. The front disc hubs have about the same size center too. In his original project 19Fordy used them to mount discs, yes.
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