I'm replacing the front brakes on a '51 F1. At my local parts store I can find front shoes and wheel cylinders. I'd also like to replace the brake hardware kit (springs, etc.). Even the best local brake parts houses don't list a kit for these trucks. All of my specialty vintage parts sources also don't have a listing for these.

I know the shoes are 11 X 2". I also know that the front brake shoes were this size through around 1966. In my head it would make sense that I should be able to use the hardware kit from one of these newer trucks on my older application.

Can anyone else confirm that these will work or tell me a good part number I could use to find what I need?

Thanks, Jay

 

I had the same problem. I ended up just ordering them from one of the specialty places. But I imagine it wouldnt be hard to narrow down at the parts house. I'd just take the three springs and compare them directly to whatever they can come up with. The retaining clips and springs that hold the shoes in place are pretty universal.

 

Jay, the only parts you can't use from newer trucks with the same brakes is the stuff related to the self-adjusting features. I had the NAPA guys pull the springs for mid-'60's F-150's and they matched close enough.

 

Just an update for the record...
Earlier today I tried to install a hardware kit for my 1951 F1 front brakes. I had purchased a front hardware kit for a 1964 F100. There was almost nothing in the kit I could use. The only parts that were the same were the shoe hold down springs, cups and 'nails'. All of the other parts would not work. When I looked up the hardware later I found that it looks like the hardware for a 1960 F100 would work. I'll be checking on it tomorrow at work.

 

8) B5A-2035-A .. Primary/Secondary Brake Shoe Retracting Spring / Obsolete

Applications: 1948/52 F1 / 1953/63 F100 / 1955/59 Ford Fairlane / 1955/60 Thunderbird REAR only.

CHUCK SPAETH FORD in New Ulm MN has 4 = 507-354-3179.

GREEN SALES CO. in Cincinnati OH has 4 = 800-543-4959.

AITKEN MOTOR CO. in Aitken MN has 7 = 218-927-2169.

CARPENTER NOS OBSOLETE PARTS in Concord NC has 2,363 (!) = 800-476-9653.
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2) H-2049 .. Brake Shoe Adjusting Spring / Obsolete

Applications: 1948/52 F1 / 1953/63 F100 / 1955/59 Ford Fairlane / 1955/60 Thunderbird.

CARPENTER has 55.

GREEN SALES has 94.
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4) H-2068 .. Brake Shoe Holddown Spring / Obsolete

Applications: 1948/52 F1 / 1953/63 F100 / 1949/59 Ford Passenger Cars / 1955/60 Thunderbird.

CARPENTER has 30.

What other parts would you like besides these springs?

Some of these springs are listed in Carpenters 1948/56 truck repro parts catalog (not the same division as his obsolete parts). Call 800-476-9653 and order the puppy, it's free.

Ross: No F150's until 1975.