Hi. I have a Ford 8" rear end. I have had this car for 17 years now. I was told back when I bought the project that it was a 9". turns out it is a 8". I want to replace the wheel cylinders on it, but not sure what year. Are there numbers on the rear that would tell me what year, and if it came from a car or truck? thanks
won't be a truck. There are some numbers...maybe...which may or may not be helpful. Look for casting numbers on the center section, look for a metal tag under one of the nuts that holds in the center section, and also just measure the brake shoe width, brake drum inner diameter, and wheel cylinder bore size, then look up various cars it could be from on rockauto. But also post pictures of the thing, there are some clues that some guys can see. that you can't describe.
Since it is under your avatar car, I would venture to guess it is either Maverick or Mustang/Cougar. You can narrow it down some by measuring the drum register. Ford used a 2-3/8" register up to 73 and went to 2-3/4" afterwards. As Jim said, pictures and width would help.
Never heard of the term "drum register" before. I would assume that it's the raised boss that sits proud of the face of the axle flange and fits into the center hole of the brake drum. That could also be a handy spec for finding a new brake drum for a replacement axle assembly.
The pics don't help much. Since the drums have the ribs, they are probably 10" x 1-3/4" shoes. The wheel cylinders are another matter since the early/late Mavericks, Mustangs, Cougars, etc. mostly used different wheel cylinders. Those cars also came in 9" brakes with yet different cylinders. If you can get a WMS to WMS width plus the register size we can narrow it down for you.
I would mic the wheel cylinder's bore, then take one (or both if the line ports are angled different) to your favorite car parts store(s) and ask for that bore size in '60s/'70s Ford products rear drum brake cylinders. They will be Bendix replacement parts, as that's what Ford used on the 8/9" rears during these years.
I got that from my pictures. It is also 5 on 4 1/2" bolt pattern. The front is from a Mustang II that had 4 lugs. I converted to 5 with the 5 on 4 1/2" bolt pattern.
You are correct. It locates the drum or rotor concentric with the axle or hub. On later vehicles it also locates the wheel concentric with the axle as well.
Looking at that last pic, I don’t see a fill plug in the rear, so that makes it a later housing. Early rears had the plug in the housing, rears have in on the side of the third member chunk. I don’t remember right off the top of my head what year the change was made, but know by changing the chunk you could end up with two fill plugs on a early housing, and none on a later one. Like was said, center register will narrow down the axle age, but even the big register axles can be put in the earlier housing, so that’s not a definite answer, either. Only way will be to measure brake shoes, drums, and wheel cylinders to get replacements.
What station wagon used an 8 inch diff ? Sounds like the car is in "paint jail" I'm guessing the college is using your car to "learn on" for a free paint job? Don't think I could do that, 3 years is a long one.
Some wheel cylinders are stamped, or cast with numbers. Bore size is what you are matching up, basically, though. I often use Rockauto to find dimensions etc to match up what I have. I'll check what I think it is first, say 1975 Maverick, then work from there. They have the part numbers listed, and you can order through them or local supplier.
The Fairlane and Comet were available in a station wagon, as well as the Falcon. 8" in a wagon would probably be a Falcon.
I removed your second post in this thread because your modern wheels and your Pinto independent front suspension are off topic and not allowed on this site....
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