I have a 71 duster with the 8 3/4. It has the wonderful 4 inch bolt pattern. I am going to be switching axles for the 4 1/2 bolt pattern. What do I do as far as brake drums are concerned? I just replaced all the brake shoes,wheel cylinders, and hardware, so I was hoping to not have to replace all of that stuff again. Let me know what all of you are doing on a conversion for this thing. I am about sick of this stupid four inch bolt pattern!
Rear brake question
- Thread starter IL duster
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Locomotion
Well-Known Member
You can have the axle machined for the OEM early A-body bearing location and small drum register and keep the brake assemblies you have, but redrill the drums for the bigger bolt pattern
If the axle is machined for the E & B body bearing locations and large drum register, you will have to use the E & B body brake assemblies.
The bearing location and register size goes along with the brakes used because of the brake size & offset. You need to provide that info when ordering the axles.
If the axle is machined for the E & B body bearing locations and large drum register, you will have to use the E & B body brake assemblies.
The bearing location and register size goes along with the brakes used because of the brake size & offset. You need to provide that info when ordering the axles.
If I did go with the e or b body brakes, do they have to come off of cars that had 8 3/4 axles? I'm not really liking the idea of drilling the drums that I have, but i'm also not crazy about spending mass amounts of cash. Thanks for all the help.
Dan
Dan
Locomotion
Well-Known Member
I "think" that any of the 10"x2" brake drums/assemblies from other rears will bolt on. (i.e.: '73 & up disc brake A-bodies, 9 1/2" rears, Aspens, Diplomats, etc.) But I'd feel better is someone could confirm that.
Yes if anyone can tell me what years and what cars to get the brake assemblies that would be great. I know you all said c bodies, but all c bodies? From what years? Also for people that drilled there original drums, have you had any problems with cracking the metal between the holes that you drilled and the old holes? How long have you had this setup on your car? Of course drilling out the original brake drums sounds like the easiest option, but I plan of driving the car a lot on the street, and I also plan on it being at the dragstrip quite a lot as well, so I want to make sure it will hold up in the long run. Again thanks for your help.
fishy68
Tyr Fryr's Inc.
Although I would prefer to have drums that are correct I will say when I bought my 68 Cuda it had drums that were drilled out several years ago and they had never cracked. It had been driven pretty hard too.
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