What parts, if any, are interchangeable between early 1939-48 Ford reardrum brakes and later brakes. I have most parts for early but my Winters rearaxle is set up for the newer backshields. Also, is the 4 bolt pattern on those shields the same on newer Fords, like 1960s Fords.
I think you'll find that once Ford went to axles with press on bearings none of the prior tapper and key style brakes crossed the line without major fab work.
I think you will find what you have and what you can use in term of later model brakes from Winters. They have many different variations of their QC.
A thread on the barn lately talked about using newer ford 8.8 brakes and early ford drums. @RICH B to the courtesy phone please
I haven't seen or heard of anyone install early brakes on late housings. Need to measure the bolt pattern and offset of your Winters axle to determine what will fit. Even the '60 stuff you mention can come in small bearing or big bearing and different backers depending on if it had 1-3/4" or 2" shoes.
Well, I may have created some confusion, sorry for that. 1st problem, my new browser will not let me copy n paste, so the thread I mention is ***led 8.8 brakes on a banjo, dated 1-7-26, page 3 as of now. Its purpose is the modification to use modern 12" backing plates on a banjo with old banjo drums. In your case, the backing plates should fit your Winters already? Anyway, its just some modern 12" stuff that may work.
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=354932&highlight=brakes Which led to this post: https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/brake-update-for-banjo.433758/#post-15788305
Not sure how he cut the large hole in the newly installed plate , but I’m thinking chucked in a lathe with a 3 jaw chuck on the 1/2 in stud
Its purpose is the modification to use modern 12" backing plates on a banjo with old banjo drums. In your case, the backing plates should fit your Winters already? Anyway, its just some modern 12" stuff that may work.[/QUOTE] Thanks. I found it. Yes. I was thinking about using modern drum brakes as they fit the housing already. Anyone knows if for instance the 51 Ford brake backing plate has the same boltpattern as the newer brakes because I have a set on hand but not close to my house at the moment. The issue is that my Winters housing has 3" 9/16 x 2" backing plate boltpattern but my axles have 5 x 5,5. To think out loud: Using 51 Ford backing plates (if they fit the holes) and F-1 drums and shoes since they are 5 x 5,5. Yes. The backing plate will fit directly but I want to keep the 5 x 5,5 boltsircle so I guess the drums needs new holes. That might be the best way.
There are two popular Ford late-model backing plate flanges (the most popular) ---> known as "Big Ford" and "Small Ford". Since you have a later Winters rear, you should just find the backing plates and drums that fit - probably "Big Ford". Also, Ford used the same 5 x 5 1/2 bolt pattern on many later trucks, so you can buy off-t******lf drums for that bolt pattern. I highly suggest going to later brakes, they are much better than any of the earlier stuff, parts are readily available, etc..
Thanks. I found it. Yes. I was thinking about using modern drum brakes as they fit the housing already. Anyone knows if for instance the 51 Ford brake backing plate has the same boltpattern as the newer brakes because I have a set on hand but not close to my house at the moment. The issue is that my Winters housing has 3" 9/16 x 2" backing plate boltpattern but my axles have 5 x 5,5. To think out loud: Using 51 Ford backing plates (if they fit the holes) and F-1 drums and shoes since they are 5 x 5,5. Yes. The backing plate will fit directly but I want to keep the 5 x 5,5 boltsircle so I guess the drums needs new holes. That might be the best way.[/QUOTE] Lots of stuff here. Pretty much nothing is 12" anymore. That 3"x 2-9/16" flange pattern on your Winters axle will work with late 9" pick-up brakes and the axle offset is probably matching. Maybe there is some kid around who had to the latest Wilwood discs on the back of his truck and the brakes are in his discard pile waiting for you. If not a pair of used backing plates are not expensive and you would probably want to replace most of the rest with new anyway. '51 Ford backing plates are 10" with a small bolt pattern. F-1 drums are 11" and not compatible with much of anything else.
I recently enlarged some backing plate holes. I used an Amazon carbide tipped hole saw. I turned a stepped plug that fit the backing plate hole, but could not push through. While it was in the lathe, I center drilled it with the pilot drill from the hole saw (annular cutter). I put the plug in from the bottom and clamped the backing plate down onto it. The hole saw cut like ****er, the new hole fit my spindle fine. It's just a matter of getting mounting holes lined up now. BTW it is a front Ford/Ford swap, 100E Anglia juice brakes on straight axle (old, mechanical brakes) Anglia spindles.
Ok. Thanks for all the input. I was not aware that some newer trucks had small hole backing plates and 5,5 bolt pattern. Thats perfect. I will aim for that, better brakes too although I am a traditional hot rod guy, I will make an exception. Its on the rear wheels and will not show. Besides, my Winters axle is modern too so I guess Im not a purist. Heres the project car in question by the way. I bought it almost as you seee it here from a buddy who wanted something else, so lucky me. Steel 34 3-window
The Jalopy Journal
