Front Brakes

[LeroyM]

I'm trying to put together a puzzle on my front brakes. I have 35 Ford wheels, 32 to 34 Ford spindles, 32 to 36 front axle, 35 rear drums & hubs. I'm looking to change over to hydraulic brakes on the front of my Model A, I've already got the rear brakes covered. Can I simply get a set of front hydraulic backing plates from 39 to 48 and use the 35 rear drums on the front and just change the hubs to 39 to 48 front hubs or is it more to it then that? The goal is to run 35 wire wheels with hydraulic brakes.

I figured since I already have 35 rear drums and running 35 wheels there's no use to change to later style drums if the front and rear drums are the same and will work on 39 to 48 front backing plates with 39 to 48 front hubs.

Has anyone done this? Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[DICK SPADARO]

I hope you mean that you have 35 FRONT hubs and drums. I dont know how to put rear drums on the front spindles.

Parts on hand:
Axle -Check

Spindles -Check

Wheels -Check

Items to find:
Backing plates - 39-48 Passenger Front or PU

Front hubs - 1940-46 passenger or PU

Front hub adapter - spacers to center backing plates and set bearing span on spindles

Front wheel spacers- adapter spacers to allow the 35 wheel to seat correctly on hub face

 

[Richard (EV8G)]

Cannot use 35 FRONT hub/drums with hydraulics (except for deep-dished 39-40 Lincoln Bendix brakes) because the drums are offset 1" inward to match the original 35 mechanical brake plates. As Spadaro says, need 40-48 (not 46) front hubs/drums, although the "40-42" with the drum on the OUTSIDE of the hub flange work better with 35 wire wheels, because the 46-48's with the drum mounted on the INSIDE of the hub flange often have external weights that interfere with the outer edge of the wheel center.

The typical/cheapo adaptor kit for the brake plates (piston ring) and bearing
spacer (valve seat) are ill-conceived; the piston ring easily breaks and the spacer does not fit the spindle correctly. I have had made the more expensive
version with has a flanged brake plate adaptor and correctly-sized spacers.

For the fronts, will also need Wire Wheel Support Rings (Spadaro calls adaptor spacers) to support the wheel on the inside of the lug circle. The 35 rears will have little stands at each lug stud, unless someone has ground them down to use later disc wheels, in which case you will need 4 of the "glue-on" type for original Ford drums. IF you end up using NEW front drums, those require a "bolt-on" wheel support ring. Note that if a bolt-on support ring is used on original drums, there will be insufficient threads available to proper install the lug nuts.