I bought a couple of old empty 1957 housings from Super Bob's salvage and I was just curious if all of the 9 inch stuff is basically the same minus shoe width etc.? Thanks
When we changed the rear in my coupe we found a "gotcha." Seems Ford changed the spacing between the pressed-on bearing and the axle flange in the mid-60s. Specifically, the '67 brakes I had would not work with the older ('59 as I recall) housing. Scrounged up some '66 Galaxy brakes that worked ok. As I recall, the bolt patterns were the same. Just one more data point.......
the gotcha means you need brakes that match the axles...it's not the housing that's different. There were different width brakes and different offset backing plates too, I have a couple smooth 57 housings one with 2" one with 1-3/4" if memory serves...
Yep 57's had both 2' ans 1 3/4". 2'' were wagons. You can change to a 66 Ford which is a 2 1/4" drum but you need the backing plates to match and make sure it has the big bearing like your 57 housing.
Not all 57 housings were equipped with the large bearing. Most came with the smaller standard car axle bearing ( like the 8 inch has )
I was told, by my 57-9 Ford guru buddy that 62-66 Ford and Merc wagon brakes, that being the backing plates, hardware and drums, were a direct bolt on replacement for the formerly impossible to find 57-9 Wagon & Ranchero rear drums. Those drums still far exceed the price of buying a whole rear out of a later wagon. Cars of the same era should do the same for the 57-9 car rears. The bearings were bigger in the Wagon Ranchero rears, so if you figure out which you have, you know what to look for.
Root I think I have a complete brake set up for one of the 59's i had. I always use disc on them and should have a complete setup check by and we will see if it is what you need. Id trade for a bare housing for my willys
The larger one ( on the Left ) is the wagon, Ranchero, Sedan Delivery, Convertible and retractable axle bearing........but some regular old p***enger cars were also equipped with " the big bearing " The right side one is the one listed as the " standard one " It also was in most all 8 inch rears until the mid 70's or later. Note the difference is the retaining bolt sizes...
Hmmm, what a pity you are half a world away, I have a set of chromed backing plates sitting in my garage-useless to me, as I had a similar problem finding the shoes drums springs and hand brake parts to fit my 57 9inch. I found out from a fellow hotrodder on our New Zealand hotrod forum that Series 4 Mazda RX7 rear disc brakes were a near bolt on fit and matched up with the front discs and master cylinder for correct brake balance, all I had to do was make a plate that bolted in place of the backing plate that held the caliper-the disc just slipped straight on the end of the axle-with correct length studs of course!
Now what about axles? Are they the same given the fact that the bearings would be smaller? I know they are different lengths etc. I was just hoping I could bolt on later backing plates and be rolling.....dang. Sam, I may be talking to ya.
there is a ton of do***ented info out there check this link for example http://www.fordmuscle.com/archives/2002/02/nineinch/index.shtml
Root If I recall the axles are the same the bearings are bigger OD. As for brakes its a matter of getting backing plates and drums that match. The bolt pattern on the housing end shouldn't be different. If you get the small bearing backing plate its just a matter of hawging out the hole in the center so it will slip past the bearing. I've put '68 wagon brakes on a smooth back before and what i recall being different was the hole in the middle was too small to p*** the bearing.
Thanks for the link...really good info(and some of it, I used to be able to remember, but alas....) This sure is a good forum for a lot of information.... Thanks, Skot
I would like to find out more about that RX-7 swap. Years and specifics please. Boring details much appreciated.
The pattern is different.......between the small and large axle bearings AND there is 1/4 of a inch difference in the bearing OD......and the bolt holes are larger too... You MUST match the backing plate to the housing end....
1957 Ford 9 inch rears came in BOTH the small and the large. And I have seen both sizes to 1966. The small pattern is used on most all of the 8 inch Fords with 5 lug wheels...also. 57 to 59 Brake stuff is hard to come by. Brake drums especially. I gave one to Levi's Cl***ic ( a nice one ) a few weeks ago, but the goons at UPS threw it around so bad..they chipped a piece out of the drum.........and it was in a good box with plenty of packing stuff. Root....... If you have the small bearing .....I will give you a 1957 set of backing plates.....you pay the shipping. But I suggest you finding a 65 or 66 Ford with the same housing ends as yours and getting the backing plates, drums and everything. The 65 - 66 stuff is better, has self adjusters and the drums are wider. PLUS you can still buy new drums....at a reasonable price. Get everything at one time, if possible....so you do NOT have a hotch-potch half a^* mess........ There are lots of 65 - 66 Fords in the salvage yards....at least around here. I got a 1965 set last week for my 32 3W....to use with my 57 housing. I paid $25 for everything.....I will replace the brake cylinders with new, as well as the shoes....but the drums will turn ...in spec ...easy. They are 11 x 2.25 ......way enough brakes for a little Deuce Coupe... Look at the diagram I posted....figure out if you have the large or the small ...measure the ID of the bearing hole.....and go hunting...I have messed with them so much I can look at the rear of the housing where the backing bolts to...and know...without measuring. The lack of taper on the housing ends and the studs are larger in the big Ford.
Thanks for the offer, but I have to decline. You may need em for your projects. I'll find something around here locally or at Bob's junk emporium. Thanks for the info as well. I will go and measure the axle housings I have.
"57 to 59 Brake stuff is hard to come by. Brake drums especially. I gave one to Levi's Cl***ic ( a nice one ) a few weeks ago, but the goons at UPS threw it around so bad..they chipped a piece out of the drum.........and it was in a good box with plenty of packing stuff." Yes it was a nice one - damn shipping goons!
Thought I might add some more fuel to this one. 57-59 small bearing axle offset is different from the 60's 8 & 9 inch small bearing stuff, so if you want to use the later backing plates, drums and brake parts, you will also need the 65-66 mustang small bearing axles to maintain the correct axle flange to backing plate spacing. This only applies to the 57-59 small bearing housing.
The 9" rear end in my 32 is a big bearing - w/3/4" nuts - out of (fairly sure) a 62 or so Ford half ton pickup. My bother-in-law picked up a pair of new Dodge brake drums for it that fit like the Ford drums - good fit on the axle register as well as located the drum in the correct transverse location for the brake shoes. If I remember right, the Dodge drums had five small holes in between the lugnut holes that the Dodge/ChryCo cars use to fit over the locating pin on the axle flange. I don't know what year or model Dodge drums they were, but a good parts guy/gal should be able to tell you.
I used a set of 8 inch backing plates and drums (circa 1962) on the 57 Ford 9 inch housing in my 34 Ford coupe. It was a very easy bolt on, and the brakes have worked well for many years.
Series 4 Mazda RX7 is arond the 1990-1993 years. The rear rotors have the same stud pattern as the Ford and they are vented and about 11inch dia. The later model RX7's(Batman's we call 'em) have even bigger rotors. Here we match them with a set of front discs and calipers from HQ Holden (about the same weight and size as a 70 Camaro) and a 1inch master cylinder.
I have a 59 small bearing housing and used the brake backing plates etc from a 66 Fairlane 8 inch on it! A bit of machining on the drums and it was good to go.....or was that stop?
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