Bigger Drum Brakes

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[FordDude]

I need to start somewhere. I have a nine inch rear end that is ready to be assembled. The limited slip 3.50 Differential is assembled and on my workbench, where it has been for 2 years now.  The housing is from a 1969 Cougar, painted and on a stand with wheels that I made. I want to stay with the drum brakes in the rear, but upgrade them. Shelby installed bigger rear brakes in 1967, not sure if he did that in 65-66. I thought that he used Galaxy or Fairlane rear brakes. OK so they were not that much bigger maybe ¼ to ½ inch wider, but they had a different backing plate.  Does anyone repo this backing plate? Or do I need to look in salvage yards? But back to my question of what am I looking for, Galaxy, Fairlane or ???  Another option would be disc brake upgrade.  I found a disc brake kit for just over 1k, that is a lot of coin for rear brakes.  I really want to say with rear drums and not have to totally redo my whole brake system. I already have the factory disc in the front, my Mustang came with them.  I am not in a hurry and have the patience to look for the correct part, I just need to know what to look for. I think that I said that already. fd

[silverbluePT]

Yes, they did it for the 65-66 cars, I believe Cobra Auto sells the parts. You could see what they are and then source then elsewhere if you'd rather not spend the $$.

[gotstang]

1980s and 1990s Rangers/Areostars/BroncoII and 4-door cars had the big drums, and Explorers might as well. Super cheap and will bolt right in...heck, some of them are IDENTICAL to the Shelby units.

You can also do rear discs for $500 or less if you want. Heck, 1992-02 Crown Vic rear discs are about a $250 swap. :D The kit is ~$65 on ebay and I'd bet you could get the brakes for $100 and new pads and such are super cheap, so you have a few options. :D

[Jonk67]

In '67 10" X 1 3/4" was standard V8 and 10" X 2" was the bigger brake. You can install the larger shoes and a new drum to match with no other changes (the 1 3/4" didn't use all the drum width), that's what I did on my '69 Cougar 9" I installed in my '67 Coupe. Measure your drum shoe width in the drums you have now, it may already accomidate 2" wide shoes, you need longer shoe hold down pins to reach but I think everything else was the same (wheel cylinders, springs, etc.).

The next bigger drums are 11" X 2.25", that's when you'll need the deeper backing plates and I believe the big bearing 9" for them to mount. Pretty sure they came on staton wagons and larger bodied bbf cars (Torino, Galaxie, etc.), I can research if you like. This IIRC as I researched it before deciding that with my sbf and front disc the 10" X 2" rear drums would be sufficient, I also installed Hawk shoes in the rear for good measure...
Jon

[FordDude]

Yes, they did it for the 65-66 cars, I believe Cobra Auto sells the parts. You could see what they are and then source then elsewhere if you'd rather not spend the $$.

Thanks for the suggestion I googled Cobra Auto and found this. http://www.cobraautomotive.com/ Good stuff and great information. Just no prices. How does that saying go? If you have to ask you cannot afford it.

1980s and 1990s Rangers/Areostars/BroncoII and 4-door cars had the big drums, and Explorers might as well. Super cheap and will bolt right in...heck, some of them are IDENTICAL to the Shelby units.

You can also do rear discs for $500 or less if you want. Heck, 1992-02 Crown Vic rear discs are about a $250 swap. :D The kit is ~$65 on ebay and I'd bet you could get the brakes for $100 and new pads and such are super cheap, so you have a few options. :D

I have a 96 Aerostar, and I will look at the brakes for grins and chuckles.

In '67 10" X 1 3/4" was standard V8 and 10" X 2" was the bigger brake. You can install the larger shoes and a new drum to match with no other changes (the 1 3/4" didn't use all the drum width), that's what I did on my '69 Cougar 9" I installed in my '67 Coupe. Measure your drum shoe width in the drums you have now, it may already accomidate 2" wide shoes, you need longer shoe hold down pins to reach but I think everything else was the same (wheel cylinders, springs, etc.).

The next bigger drums are 11" X 2.25", that's when you'll need the deeper backing plates and I believe the big bearing 9" for them to mount. Pretty sure they came on staton wagons and larger bodied bbf cars (Torino, Galaxie, etc.), I can research if you like. This IIRC as I researched it before deciding that with my sbf and front disc the 10" X 2" rear drums would be sufficient, I also installed Hawk shoes in the rear for good measure...
Jon

After reading your reply I feel a little less crazy.I could have sworn that when I did my brakes 25 years ago that I put bigger ones in it. Now I remember having the drums turned so that I use the 2 inch and replace the 1 3/4. But I want more. I want to go up to the 2 1/2 that Shelby used in the GT350 and GT500. I had a 67 GT500 and somewhat remember looking at the brakes and seeing that they were bigger. Just wish that I had internets back then. 

Thanks for your help dudes, but I am not done yet...

fd

[joesgt281]

I have some big drum brakes that came off a Torino that need a good home.
They're ready to bolt on with new cylinders and pads.
Do you have large or small bearing rear?

[FordDude]

I have some big drum brakes that came off a Torino that need a good home.
They're ready to bolt on with new cylinders and pads.
Do you have large or small bearing rear?

Before I assume what I have what do I measure, well the bearing duh, what are the sizes? The housing is off of a 69 Cougar. fd

[joesgt281]

Before I assume what I have what do I measure, well the bearing duh, what are the sizes? The housing is off of a 69 Cougar. fd

From this site:
http://ultrastang.com/Page.asp?PageID=6 , he states:

IDENTIFYING A LARGE AXLE BEARING HOUSING FROM A MEDIUM BEARING HOUSING:
The axle housing's bearing size can be determined (as to whether they are of the large bearing type or the medium bearing type) by looking at the holes in the housing's end flanges where the drum brake backing plates bolt up. The large bearing housings can be identified by the presence of (4) ½" backing plate bolts, while the medium bearing housings can be identified by the presence of (4) 3/8" backing plate bolts.
The ½" backing plate bolts will require the use of a ¾" socket to break the (4) backing plate retaining nuts loose with, while the 3/8" backing plate nuts will require a 9/16" socket.

And I did confirm that I have the small (medium) bearing housing.

[FordDude]

Looks like I have a mission today and have to get dressed. I was sick yesterday and spent most of it in bed.  Yes that was me Tuesday morning at 0245. Thanks for the link. fd

[FordDude]

OK I went out to my other garage and moved a bunch of stuff to get to my rear end housing. I took some pics and it looks as if I have a medium bearing housing.



fd

[LMan68]

I'd get the Mustang GT/V6 rear disc upgrade.  Its for small bearing rear ends and, as mentioned, the parts are ~ 100.00 minus the loaded calipers.  Check a pullapart or Autozone for the calipers.   There are prob 4-6 vendors, at least, that offer this swap.

Forget Cobra Automotive unless you dont feel like paying your mortgage this month.  Its all top stuff for top dollar.  Very top dollar.


I used Ultrastang.com 's rear disc kit and have been happy on the track.  Its just too cost-effective NOT to do rear discs these days, unless vintage racing rules interfere or an unnatural desire to stay 'stock' appearing has overcome you.   :D

[sigtauenus]

I wrote this over 10 years ago and still haven't taken the time to update it.  Most info is still valid, but depending on the axels you have you may have extra space between the big hole in the middle of the drum and the part of the axel that sticks out that the hole in the drum slides over.  Not sure what that is called. 

It was a very easy conversion, even more so now since a lot of that 10x2.5 parts are available from the Mustang parts vendors such as NPD.  When I rebuilt the brakes again a little over a year ago I just ordered the guts from NPD (brake cylinders, spring set, etc), shoes from the local parts house, and the drums were still in great shape.  Backing plates still need to be sourced used AFAIK.

http://mustangsandmore.com//ubb/RearBrakesbySamGriffith.html

[FordDude]

Sam,
This is exactly what I was looking for. Its not that I really being lazy, OK yes I am, but I figured someone had to have done this conversion already. The only suggestion that I would make is to copy that info over to the Fix. Do you still have the pics, because they do not come up with the link. Mustangs and more has some really great info, IIRC they used to have a chart on different 9 inch rear ends. fd

[sigtauenus]

FD, I do still have the pics, but will likely take new ones once the car comes back from the body shop.  Those pics I never liked anyhow because of the cracked bondo in the quarter panel above the brakes.

I'll see what I can do getting the info copied over to our tech forum here, and perhaps throw some time at checking and updating part numbers and prices for what I have listed.

[gt289]

+1 on the sigtauenus setup.
That's what I have on my wife's '68. (1969 Mustang rear axle housing in that car too)

[FordDude]

Yes I saw that in your introduction write up. I also noticed that you have a little experience with Global West suspensions.  So as not to hijack my own post I will start another thread with some questions about front suspensions. Please stay tuned.  fd