40 brakes on my 31 A

V

vernlee

Member
I'm putting 1940 brakes on the rear of my Model A , I ordered new 40 axle bearings , but they seem too loose to me , I can slide the bearing on the model a axle super easy and it has slop , it slides 1/2 way into the hub then stops , I'm sure I can press it all the way in . Does all this seem normal ? do they make different bearings for the 1940 ?


Vern
 
Doesn't sound good to me. I have the 39 brakes front and rear on my 29 Roadster and have no problems after about 30 years. The bearings slide into my rear hubs and a large snap ring holds them in place just as was the case with the stock drums. Fronts are just like the A brake except the drums are cast iron, as are the rear,
 
"What's wrong with the original mechanical brakes?"
Here is what is wrong with them:
Time will not be spent to learn how they work
Time will not be spent in learning how to properly rebuild them.
Effort will not be spent to obtain necessary parts.
Time will not be spent to do the work properly.
Help will not be solicited if a question occurs.
Listen to horror stories about their inadequacies.
The list goes on.

"When adjusted right they work great." Right on!!!
 
Miles in MN , I'm actually seeing just the opposite , the bearing # 68-1225-A is loose on the A axle and tight going in the 40 hub .
 
Vern, you may want to post this question to the Early V8 and Rods and Customs forums. They may have more knowledge about mixing 40 hubs on 31 axles.

My first Model A (60 years ago) had 48 brakes and they worked well. My present car came with the stock brakes and I studied up and got them to work well too. Lots of effort but worth it in the long run.

Where are you located?
 
Are both new bearings tight going into both rear hubs? If so, it might suggest a problem with the new bearings. As far as the bearing being sloppy going over the "A" axle housing, you need to realize that the bearing rollers bridge the gap between the inside diameter of the hub and the outside diameter of the axle housing. So, only using one of those dimensions for fit doesn't mean much compared to how the bearing "rides" when the parts are all assembled together.
 
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