1950 F2 Rear Brake Drum
 

Does anyone have a good used rear brake drum for a 1950 Ford F2 (8 D-1126-A Rear Drum 1948/51)? I have given up trying to find a new one and I am hoping someone who switched out the rear axle on their F2 may still have a good drum they might want to sell. Help out a fellow enthusiast, please! :)

I thought Chuck's Trucks could supply new replacement drums and shoes to match. My memory of what other folks have said on this site is he offers 12 1/8" drums and shoes so you have to replace both together (and both sides).

Unfortunately, I talked with Chuck and he is all out of 1950 F2 drums. He suggested that I find a late 1951-56 F-2 or F-3, or F-250, and get all of the brake parts and backing plates from them as he has drums to fit them. Since I don't have access to any late 1951-56 F-2 or F-3's at the moment, I thought I would try and get a good used 1950 drum. If I make the change and want to retain my e-brake at the wheels I would need some 1957-60 F-250 rear backing plates. Sounds complicated with a lot of parts to find. I am hoping a 1950 rear drum will solve my problem without going on a new search for these other parts. Perhaps someone has some of the late 1951-56 F-2 or F-3 brake parts so I could go that way?

What diameter and width drum are we speaking of? And, how many lug?

We are talking a 12" x 1 3/4" 8 stud drum. The shoes are actually 12" x 1 3/4" but the actual drum braking surface about 2" wide. Total height of the drum is just under 4 1/2".

At one time LMC offered brake drums for '48 to early '51 drums, they now list the front drums but not the rear drums. You can try Job Lot Auto in NY to see if they might have new ones, JobLot Automotive. Unfortunately, they don't have an on line catalog. You'll have to either email or call them.

Must admit I haven't tried them yet. I suppose it is worth a shot though . . .

LMC still lists them:
http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/fa/full.aspx?Page=86

But they are on back order. That is where I got mine. They are expensive at $100 each but when I got them and compared them to my old drums I was surprised how worn the old ones were.

They are on back order everywhere they are still cataloged. A few of the venders (including Chuck of "Chuck's Trucks", Early Ford V8, and JobLot) checked with their suppliers and were told they were out of stock with no future parts expected in. Thus my dilemma. Looks like I am going to a late '51 thru '56 rear brake setup per Chuck's advise. I wonder though if they will play well with the original front brakes since the newer brake system is "self energizing" with a different wheel cylinder size than the original.

I've got a couple from parted trucks gone by. But I suppose it depends on what you consider 'good'. If you send me an email and I'll send you some pics.

PM is sent!

This complete set popped up on eBay. Very expensive but drums are hard to find. And if they are not worn they are heavy.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/251998311840?item=251998311840&viewitem=&vxp=mtr

Even with shipping I don't think that's too bad of price, especially if you need them. I baby the drums on my F-2. Never let the shoes get too thin because I know they're hard to find.

I don't think I'd spend that kind of money without the drum measurements. Any shop that turns drums would measure them for free. I am surprised he wouldn't do that and then list the measurements. Notice his pictures show the machined surface but no pictures that at least show the thickness of the stopping surface. My advise? Buyer beware.

Ford change brake designs mid '51. I bought a set of the later drums for my '49, not knowing they were different. When I went to use them I found out they were different but they were in really good shape. I took them down to the machine shop to have the tolerances checked and they were good. I had them turned enough to clean up the braking surfaces and tried to sell them. No one seemed to want them. Finally I think I got $300 for the set. At the time I was trying to sell them LMC was advertising drums for '48-52 F-2 drums for, I think $125 apiece. They had them listed incorrectly, they were only for '48 to mid-'51.

I would also want assurance that these drums were still in tolerance before buying but that's still a decent price if they are good. LMC has drums for F-1s for around, I think, $95 each and those aren't are rare and hard to find as the drums for any of the larger trucks.