Hey guys I remember someone saying that the pre 72 9" ford rear brake components and drums could interchange with the stock dana 44's. The drums on the 44 are narrower right? Would replacing the drums and pads on the 9" with a dana 44 drums and pads make the axle more narrow to maybe fit a bigger wheel and tire?

 

No. That part doesn't change. The width of the axle comes from the housing, and especially the shafts. The brakes just fit around the shaft. If you're going to be swapping brakes, you need to do it as a complete set of matching parts; drums, shoes, hardware, and backing plates.

Rear brakes were the same width thru 1967.

 

Yeah Thats what I thought, It didn't make any sense with it making the axle a little shorter due to the axle shafts being in the same place....I don't know if I said that right lol I couldn't find that thread that had that info in it about the swap. Thanks 52 merc

 

I reported once long, long ago that the 41/44 backing plates will swap onto the 9" axle housing, but as Wayne said I swapped everything as a unit and no, it doesn't change the width.