brake drum swap?
#1
12-02-2005, 06:45 AM
brake drum swap?
I have a 1951 F1 with a Dakota IFS using a 5 x 4.5" bolt pattern. I also swapped to a late 60's, early 70's truck nine inch rearend and plan to redrill the axles to the 4.5" bolt pattern. Is there an 11"x2.25" brake drum from a car that will fit on the redrilled truck axle with 2.875" drum register diameter.
#2
12-02-2005, 12:52 PM
Welcome to the site. If you have time, post some pics of your truck because we all like to see what everyone is working on. Here is some info for the brake drums/axles:
Good luck and welcome. 
hotrod48
Swapping axles in the ‘57 – ‘72 F-100 rear end to achieve the 5 X 4 ½” bolt pattern –
It has been mentioned on another website (and repeated here) that the '77-'79 T-bird, Cougar, LTD II, Ranchero, and '73-up Torinos left side (driver’s side) axle happened to be nearly the exact same length as both axles in the '57-'72 F-100 9" rear end. It has been asserted that two driver’s side axles from the aforementioned passenger cars could be swapped into the truck housing to give a 5 X 4 ½” lug pattern to match all the popular Mopar, MII, and LTD front IFS swaps for our trucks without getting our old axles re-drilled or the use of dangerous adapters.
Given the reputation we have to uphold here as the premier website for all things Ford truck related or maybe we just had some time on our hands…anyway, one of our members decided to prove/disprove this piece of folklore.
Based upon him actually removing axles from one of the above listed cars and from a ‘57 – ‘72 F-100 9” and actually trying to do the swap –
The left side only axle shaft and either side brake drum out of a '73-up Torino or '77-'79 T-Bird, Cougar, LTD II, or Ranchero will install easily in a '72 Ford F-100 9" axle housing on either side assuming that you use the truck housing's brake backing plates and brake assemblies, axle retainer plates, and bearing retainer collars. This swap nets the common 5 X 4 ½” lug pattern with the truck housing.
It has been mentioned on another website (and repeated here) that the '77-'79 T-bird, Cougar, LTD II, Ranchero, and '73-up Torinos left side (driver’s side) axle happened to be nearly the exact same length as both axles in the '57-'72 F-100 9" rear end. It has been asserted that two driver’s side axles from the aforementioned passenger cars could be swapped into the truck housing to give a 5 X 4 ½” lug pattern to match all the popular Mopar, MII, and LTD front IFS swaps for our trucks without getting our old axles re-drilled or the use of dangerous adapters.
Given the reputation we have to uphold here as the premier website for all things Ford truck related or maybe we just had some time on our hands…anyway, one of our members decided to prove/disprove this piece of folklore.
Based upon him actually removing axles from one of the above listed cars and from a ‘57 – ‘72 F-100 9” and actually trying to do the swap –
The left side only axle shaft and either side brake drum out of a '73-up Torino or '77-'79 T-Bird, Cougar, LTD II, or Ranchero will install easily in a '72 Ford F-100 9" axle housing on either side assuming that you use the truck housing's brake backing plates and brake assemblies, axle retainer plates, and bearing retainer collars. This swap nets the common 5 X 4 ½” lug pattern with the truck housing.
hotrod48
#3
12-02-2005, 01:16 PM
#4
12-02-2005, 01:31 PM
ferguson, I actually got it from the 1948-60 F1 & F-100 Rear Axle Swaps thread. Thanks for the user name too, I plan on doing that swap.
Edit: Here is the the thread ferguson is talking about: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...d.php?t=127564
hotrod48
Edit: Here is the the thread ferguson is talking about: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...d.php?t=127564
hotrod48
Last edited by hotrod48; 12-02-2005 at 01:38 PM.
#5
12-02-2005, 02:11 PM
#6
12-02-2005, 09:40 PM
Thanks everyone for the info. I called around and found that the car drums have a drum register diameter of 2.780" or smaller and the truck axle has a register of 2.875".
This means I will need to find the appropriate car axles and drums, have the drum register of the truck axle machined smaller to match the car drums or have the truck drums and axles drilled to the 5 x 4.5" bolt pattern.
This means I will need to find the appropriate car axles and drums, have the drum register of the truck axle machined smaller to match the car drums or have the truck drums and axles drilled to the 5 x 4.5" bolt pattern.
#7
12-03-2005, 12:17 PM
IIRC redrilling the axles is not an option because there is a hole between two of the stud holes to access the flange bolts. Racing axle suppliers like Moser will will build you a set of axles with any bolt pattern, length and hub register you'd like for the Ford 9" probably for less than having a set redrilled, and they will be far stronger. Stock length axles are likely to be a stocked item.
