Been trying to educate myself the last few days on the mysteries of early Ford interchangeability when it comes to spindles, brakes (backing plates), and wheels. I think I have most of what I need figured out for my front axle to mount wide five hubs/wheels, but haven’t found anything really on rear axles. Currently, I have a 28 Model A rear axle which seems to be no good due to the taper ends being chewed up pretty good, so I might have a lead on a 31 Model A rear axle, but then figured out I better confirm if the wide five hub will fit that. Seems the shaft sticks out pretty far on the original setup. My Model A back in 2018 when I first bought. The 31 Model A for sale. Same deal. Actually looks very strange as to how far the shaft extends out.
Dug out the 28 Model A axle, and the wheel/hub ***embly that was on it (I think based on the pics as I have a bunch). Also, pulled out one of the wide five hubs. Seems I bought the 36 version based on the ribs along the cir***ference and the long centre snout. I thought initially, the 28 hub also rode on the taper, but looking at the setup, doesn’t seem to be the case (looks as though it rides only on the large roller bearings), so I wonder how the taper got so chewed up. Almost seems there is some insert inside the hub where the tapered shaft would sit. I’ll have to do more digging to see how it was all designed.
The 28 Model A hub sitting on the 28 Model A axle housing. Decided to measure the distance from the outside the flange on the axle to the bottom of the hub. Don’t see how a “juice” brake backing plate would fit with the flange buried so deep into the hub/drum. “Sleeve” inside the 28 Model A hub where taper and keyway are.
For $hit$ & giggles, threw in some bearings I had lying around and tried the 36 Wide Five hub on the axle. Seeing that the Model A shafts are keyed to the hub, I now wonder how the shafts are secured to these 36 hubs which I ***ume have the same design from 35-40 from what I’m gathering. So, it seems clear to me that the wife five will not fit on the Model A type rear axle which seems to be similar to the 32 axle from Matt on Iron Trap Garage.
Forgot to post these pics of the tapered bearings and the distance from the flange in the axle to the back of the 36 hub.
Forgot also to post the tire/rim from which the 28? hub came from. Decided to go measure that rim, and it seems to be an 18” rim, so based on what I was in this vid, it is a 32 rim. Interesting…
Digging more into this, seems Ford used the same setup (banjo style rear axle) from 1928 to 1948. Hard to tell from some drawings, but it seems a keyway was used all along based on pics from VanPelt, so why does my wide five hub look different?
You have a front drum mocked up. Front hubs with tapered roller bearings will not fit on the rear axles, which is what it looks like you're doing for some reason. If you had a rear wide 5 drum with the correct hub and bearing that rides on the race machined into the bell end as it's meant to, it will fit fine. I was able to fit up wide 5 drums to a '32 axle with a quick-change center section. Bolted right on and they are out running around back in the Bay Area to this day.
Ok. Thanks. I was starting to wonder if there were differences between the front and rear hubs. Now it’s all starting to make some sense. I have three wide five hubs IIRC, but will need to track them all down. I understand that the 36 wide five are different from the 37-39 wide five ones, and also that the 36 wide five will not work with “juice” brake backing plates because they sit about 7/8” more inboard.
Definitely differences between front and rear hubs. Keep the rear bearing that came with the hub as the OD of the bearing changed. I think about 1932. But the ID is the same so the hub should fit. Be aware some times people find a little interference between drum and backing plate on a juice brake swap to an A axle, and I think some cure it with a taper shim to get some space. Probably dozens of threads on the Fordbarn in the Model A section on doing this swap.
Ok. Thanks. I’m trying to wrap my head around all the nuisances involved in using wide five drum/hub ***emblies on earlier spindles. Lots of info for adapting to the front axle, but almost nothing on adapting to the rear including juice brake related stuff. I haven’t checked the Barn yet specifically as I ***umed there wouldn’t be much considering it is more of a purist site and less about hot rodding. It still amazes me that in all the stuff I’ve read/watched, no one mentioned the difference between front and rear hubs.
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