Safety Hubs
 

Seen the thread the other day on the safety hubs. Here are the ones Im planning on using on my Zephyr. Does anyone know why they wouldnt work with the bendix type brakes ?I believe they are superior to the ones being offered that hangs over the drum but to my knowledge no one is currently producing them. I have a pair of the current design that hangs over the drum on my 40 coupe. Not sure how good they work and I really dont want to try them out either :eek:.But they are good piece of mind .

Re: Safety Hubs
 

they will work. just make a note that there on the car. if you don,t remove the retaining nuts you woun,t be able to get the drum off. they are being made again. if your useing bendix brakes on a ford rear you need this type or you can make the kind that go over the drum. there was a thread that showed a set made for the over the drum type on the barn a couple of months ago .the type you have are in my openion much beter

Re: Safety Hubs
 

Hi Richard, Do you know who is making them ? I would like to have another pair.

Re: Safety Hubs
 

Those are real 1950's hotrod parts...Speedway, I think, is or was reproducing them with aluminum castings.

Re: Safety Hubs
 

I think that smaller ring has to be welded to the hub. Is that correct?

Re: Safety Hubs
 

Yes...big piece drops into place, ring goes on and is welded, then the thing gets welded on with space set for minimal movement if axle lets go.
Someone on the HAMB reported finding a streetrodder friend with a newly purchased '40 fighting with drums that just would not come off...the encounter was too late to save the brakes, which had already been ruined by the guy applying crowbars to his safety-hubbed drums!

Re: Safety Hubs
 

Bruce, I don't think there is any further welding after the ring is welded to the hub. The whole shebang just gets bolted in place. I have only ever seen a magazine article years ago, and I seem to remember something like 4 half inch beads 90 degrees apart were judged to be sufficient.

Bear in mind the unit only has to hold things in place until the vehicle comes to a halt. Once the axle snaps you are going no further.

You have to make sure the studs in the unit are long enough to go through the radius arm and shock brackets.

Mart.

Re: Safety Hubs
 

I understand the studs come through the backing plates and are then nutted, but what stops the casting and studs from moving around as it would only be fixed to stop movement one way?

Does it just "float" against the welded ring?

Re: Safety Hubs
 

The ring is the only welding...the people I mentioned were having their little difficulty because they were unaware their new ride HAD safety hubs!
The studs are clamped securely in place in both directions, replacing the function of the two removed original fasteners... Note also the notches in casting to clear existing fasteners that remain. The casting itself doesn't do anything until the axle breaks, at which time it keeps the hubs very close to normal position.

Re: Safety Hubs
 

Bruce, thank you for your excellent explanation. I can just imagine the frustration of trying to remove a stock drum - not knowing those safety hubs were being used.

Re: Safety Hubs
 

Yikes! Good to keep in mind! That could/would be a costly error.

Re: Safety Hubs
 

Funny enough, a UK enthusiast had the same problem. I suggested he checked for this type of safety hub and lo and behold that is what he had.

Mart.

Re: Safety Hubs
 

This story illustrates another reason for setting up your rear hub/drum combo so that the drum is not locked to the hub and can be removed separately. The safety hub would have immediately obvious with the drum removed.

Re: Safety Hubs
 

Yes, but only if you have the drums that go on the outside of the hubs. Some drums actually go inboard of the hubs. Something, I would imagine, that must be a peculiarity to Fords.

Mart.