Thread: Juice Brakes to Early Ford Axle

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Hi,

I've a collection of articles about adapting later ('37-41 & '46-48) juice brakes to earlier spindles: i.e. grind a bit here, use this inner bearing and that outer one,etc. I have what I think is an F-1 front axle, but it could be a 46-48 pickup as well. Fact is, it looks like I can take the entire assembly from the spindle on out, king pins and all, and install it on my early ('34 ?) dropped axle. Then I would have the choice of cross steering, or it looks like any one of my collection of swap meet steering loops would fit as well. I just don't get why I haven't read of this apparantly easy swap. Am I missing something? :-) T OMT

Do a Google for "Hydraulic brakes for early Fords". Should bring up many links. Wouldn't hurt to do a search on this and other forums too.

Jack.

You can use the 40 Ford brakes or the F100's, Obviously the 40's go straight onto 37-41 spindles but the F100's need different bearings, I worked out the bearings & seals myself and then found out Speedway sell the bearing kit.
Its pretty straightforward apart from a little material that needs to be ground off the spindle.



http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...E/SNV18029.jpg

Good advice, thanks. Googled it and found tons of info. Seems that pre-1953 brakes are not a good idea, since they are not self energizing. Naturally all the stuff I've collected is the pre '53 stuff. Says those grab, maintenance probs etc. so now I have to find some '53 to '56 stuff. One guy said that clear through the 50's and into the 60's the brake drums were the same and he THOUGHT the backing plates, though different, could be modified. ANYBODY ?
However it sounds like a different problem exists with early wires on '53 up drums since spacers are needed, but no discussion on that same old situation with the wires needing support inside the bolt pattern. So now I don't have it figured out, again. ANYBODY use pre-'53 non self-energizing brakes to good effect? Sounds like "Roadster '32" did. What say you, Roadster? TerryOMT

Hi Guys, I've studied up on this some and bought a pair of 1955 F100 front brakes complete, with new hoses and cylinders for $50. Cool huh ! I' ve read things here and there about the F1 spindles and it seems they will work on a '34 front axle and with the F100 brakes, but I'am not at all sure. Anybody done this ?

Think most have switched to discs, at least on the front.... Can't think of any good reason I'd ever go back to drums......

Terry,

Great find and price on the F100 brakes. I don't know about the F100 spindles on your axle but someone here surely does. I don't know your reason for staying with drums but I have two reasons. The Buick brakes I went with, 2 1/4" X 12", will stop the 34 much much better than the 48 non self energizing brakes I used to run, and I wanted to stay old school. OK, here's a third reason, I love those finned alum. Buick drums.

Jack.

Buick brakes are the best brakes I've ever used even to this date. I never changed any brakes. Buick parts are great parts.

Howdy Gents....It's been awhile. Back to earlier question: Lots of info out there about using the Car spindles from '32 on up including what bearings to use, etc. But I have confirmed that I have some spindles from a '46-'47 1/2 ton P/U that seem like they'll work. I have the '55 drums and backing plates, and wonder if those P/U spindles are the same as that from a car. Anybody? TerryOMT

Hi Terry,
I still do not know about your 55 spindles but why don't you see if you can install them on your axle and if you can; the next step is to see if they will function properly with the rest of steering parts and suspension. I am surprised no one else has chimed in on this. I am sure however that your 55 brakes can be adapted to your existing spindle.

Jack.

Originally Posted by TerryOMT

Good advice, thanks. Googled it and found tons of info. Seems that pre-1953 brakes are not a good idea, since they are not self energizing. Naturally all the stuff I've collected is the pre '53 stuff. Says those grab, maintenance probs etc. so now I have to find some '53 to '56 stuff. One guy said that clear through the 50's and into the 60's the brake drums were the same and he THOUGHT the backing plates, though different, could be modified. ANYBODY ?
However it sounds like a different problem exists with early wires on '53 up drums since spacers are needed, but no discussion on that same old situation with the wires needing support inside the bolt pattern. So now I don't have it figured out, again. ANYBODY use pre-'53 non self-energizing brakes to good effect? Sounds like "Roadster '32" did. What say you, Roadster? TerryOMT

Starting in 48 brakes were self energizing. I believe in 53 they also became self adjusting. But you can use later hardware on 48 and later and make self adjusting as well. I put 48,49 f1 brakes on my 47 square back spindles, with later self adjusting hardware. I have the bearing numbers and seals to install these on the round back and square back spindles. The seal is the hardest, although I did manage to get crossreference numbers for National, Timken, and Napa Seals. Let me know if you need these numbers. Also the inner bearing won't seat completly on the later spindles, they say to bevel the inner edge of bearing, I filed the radius more square on my spindles, that way if I have to replace a bearing, especially in BFE I can just put it on right out of the box. And the spindle isn't hardned, that race is....................