56 F100 drum brakes on 32
 

My 32 full-fendered roadster has a small-block Chevy with a 39 trans and 40 rearend (with torque tube) and 41 brakes. The brakes have faded on me a couple of times pretty badly. I've rebuilt them before, turned drums new parts but never thrilled with them. I've got a set of 56 F100 drum brakes I was considering putting on the front before I rebuild the 41s again. Has anyone here done this swap and were you happy with results? I'm not racing this thing but the roads and freeways in SoCal make good brakes a good idea.

Re: F100 drums on 32
 

Be sure the wheels you want to use fit the drums.

Charlie Stephens

Re: 56 F100 drums on 32
 

When you say drums are you talking the matching f100 backing plates and hubs?

Re: 56 F100 drums on 32
 

Yes the whole assembly.

Re: 56 F100 drums on 32
 

Actually I was talking about being sure that the wheels SoCal32 wants to run will fit on the drums. I am into smaller engines and like bent spoke Kelsey wheels which I don't believe will fit on a 56 F100 drum without a very thick spacer.

Charlie Stephens

Re: 56 F100 drum brakes on 32
 

Why not a set of aftermarket finned buick drums if heat is the issue...
They seems to work as good as the F100 for breaking power and excellent heat dissipation.
If that doesn´t make it you probably have to aim at discs in front...
And they are compatible with most wheels to i think...

Re: 56 F100 drum brakes on 32
 

The F-100 brakes will fit if you have the 37-48 spindles. You need to make an inner bearing and seal change. I've done this before and it does work well. As Charlie says it also depends on your wheels. Wire wheels will not work on the F-100 drums unless you have a very thick spacer. The early factory 16's or 15's will work just fine.

Re: 56 F100 drum brakes on 32
 

If they fit your wheels, you will be very happy with they performance. Brake parts are also cheaper. The brake hose depending on were its anchored to the frame you will have to figure out which one fits best

Re: 56 F100 drum brakes on 32
 

even better would be repro lincoln bendix brakes.uses the same bearings as lockheed brakes!:)

Re: 56 F100 drum brakes on 32
 

I've looked into the Lincoln ones, not trying to be cheap but figured if I already had a set of rebuilt F100 drums I'd use them. I'll have to look into the wheels as I alternate between bent-spoke Kelseys with bias-plys and 15-inch solids with radials. Thanks for responses.

Re: 56 F100 drum brakes on 32
 

Also,
Fitting the backing plates. If you use 37 to 40 round spindles they need a little grinding for the hose to clear around the kingpin boss.(or clock the backing plate and redrill the holes)
42 to 48 square spindles , no grinding

Re: 56 F100 drum brakes on 32
 

Do you have the information on how to install them, parts, etc? If not I can post a writeup I did. Nice thing about f1/f100 brake parts is they were (for the most part) the same as later year brake parts.

Re: 56 F100 drum brakes on 32
 

Just so I understand..

The bent spoke Kelsey's WILL fit on the Lincoln's.....?

Re: 56 F100 drum brakes on 32
 

With 40 ford brake drums and the lincoln backing plates with 1-3/4 shoes. and the support ring. Not the Lincoln drum and not buick drums

Re: 56 F100 drum brakes on 32
 

Also not the F1s.

Only juice brake hub/drums that wires will fit on are 40-48. (With the adaptor ring as already said).

As Skidmarks says, you can use these drums with Lincoln backing plates and 1-3/4" shoes.

Re: 56 F100 drum brakes on 32
 

Got it..
Thank you!

Re: 56 F100 drum brakes on 32
 

Last time i did this and its easier this way, is use rear backing plates off the lincoln without the parking brake hardware and 40 drums and hubs. Just weld up the ebrake cable hole.

Re: 56 F100 drum brakes on 32
 

As I'd like to continue to run wires occasionally it looks like I'll have to look in to one of the other alternatives