front disc brakes on a 1937 -width?

mumpsimus

mumpsimus

Member
Hi guys. I just bought an old woodie and it needs brakes. There seems to be several companies offering disc brake kits that fit the spindles. But some of the brakes increase the width of the track. Does anybody know which kits increase width the least?

I want to keep the nice original wide 5 wheels by using wheel adapters from Speedway, which increase the width too, hence my question above.

There will be more questions later, but wanted to start with the brakes.

Thanks,
Pete
 
The kit by Magnum Suspension(formerly Magnum Axle) will keep the wheels in the stock location. This causes the snout on the hub to be longer, but since you are using an adapter your hub caps should fit without hitting the snout.
I used the kit on my 41 pickup and had to use a '50 Merc hubcap to clear the snout. There may be others now that keep the wheels inboard, but at the time Magnum was the only game in town. It's a very nice kit.
 
Maybe consider buying new Lincoln 1-1/2" complete brakes with backing plates and use your wide five drums. You will have very good drum brakes.
I think discs and adapters will space you out 1-1/2" on each side.
Chassis eng sells a drop axle kit that is narrower, that with discs and adaptor would be about right
 
Magnum replied today. The older type front disc brake setups that use the one-piece cast iron rotor/hub are the ones that increase the wheels' track width. The newer setups that have the aluminum hub keep the original Ford track width.
 
Update: the narrowest Magnum brake/hub design widens the front wheel track by 1/2" per side compared to stock 1937 mechanical brakes. Curiously, the Magnum guys said this setup was supposed to be .75" NARROWER than a standard 1940 juice brake. Were 1940 cars really 1.25" wider per side than 1937? That seems hard to believe since they ran the same spindles.

Anyway, I'm looking for advice from anybody who runs disc brakes and wide five wheels. Adding the adapter from 5x5 to wide fives adds another 1/2", so my front end is 1" wider per side than the stock 1937 setup.
 
Magnum told me the width of their setup is 4.75 inches from the center line of the king pin on each side. You can do your own math with that. I'm looking into their setup vs speedway setup to see if there is improvement. Magnum claims the width is the same as with 40 hubs.
 
I'm trying to get my head around that. If Magnum's width is the same as standard 40 hubs, and that is 1.25" wider per side than 1937, it seems very odd to me. Maybe Ford changed the wheel rim offset from wide fives to the later wheels?

I have their .75" narrower-than-1940 setup, and that is already .5" wider than 1937 drums. (all dimensions per side).

I just don't want to push my wheels out too far and get heavy steering and tires rubbing the fenders.
 
Thanks Mrtexas. I found the easiest way to measure is from the end of the spindle (by the cotter pin) to the mounting surface for the wheel. Can you guys measure yours next time you have a chance? Either stock drums or aftermarket discs. It can be measured pretty simply with a straight edge across the end of the spindle and a ruler to the wheel mounting flange.

my stock 1937-1939 drums are 3.66"
Magnum's Narrow Hub measures 3.2",
Magnum's Standard Hub would be around 2.5" which they say is the same as 1940 drums.

Are 1940 drums drastically different than 1937-1939 drums? Does anybody know 40 brakes well?
 
Thanks Fordors. Maybe the 1940 wheels were offset deifferently than the wide fives I guess. That would keep them away from the fenders. I'll have to think about buying wheels, but I really like the stock wide fives I have. A narrower axle is an option too maybe.
 
The best solution would be if I could get wide five wheels with more backspacing. Then tires would be in the same position relative to the spindle as the stock setup. I'll search around to see if anybody can modify wide fives...
 
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