1928 ford wire wheels

[26or27]

I have a real real tough question? How are 21" AR wheels different from later 28/29 21" wheels??

I take such good care of myself that when I'm 110 years old, I will look like I'm only 102.

[Tom Wesenberg]

The edge of the hub is about 1" and I think the later ones are about 1 1/4". The hub center is a little different also.

[Joe K]

And the service bulletins are quick to point out EARLY WHEELS FROM THE SINGLE BRAKE SYSTEM WILL NOT FIT THE HUBS OF THE LATER BRAKE SYSTEMS.

Sorry for yelling. Major accident can occur if an early wheel is used on a later car or visa-versa.

It's easy to be fooled and one CAN go on the other (forget which) and seemingly correctly - but the proper support is not there and the wheel will fail - possibly disasterously.

Joe K

[Floats]

Joe,
What is a single brake system?
I need to replace the front drums on my 28 Pickup but I am not sure which drums to order. Mine is a RHD, if that might help.
Regards
Chris
Cape Town

[Joe K]

Originally Posted by Floats

Joe,
What is a single brake system?
I need to replace the front drums on my 28 Pickup but I am not sure which drums to order. Mine is a RHD, if that might help.
Regards
Chris
Cape Town

Look to your rear drums. If they look like the front drums then you've got a single brake system. If there is an extra "step" in the brake drum smaller in diameter but similar to the largest diameter then you've got the "improved" two brake system.

Ford's original concept was that emergency brake would simply pull up on the main brake system for all four wheels. This a simplification over other cars - and a production expedient for Ford - but the change was frowned upon by MANY state governments/inspection divisions. The original Ford single brake concept is flawed in that there is no "fall back" should the main brake system fail. "Emergency brake" used to mean exactly that - the brake system you use in an emergency if your main brakes fail.

MANY states drew a line around Ford Model As for a while saying no true Emergency brake - no registration. Ford in an effort to augment sales had to quickly design another E brake system which he applied only to the rear wheels.

But the new extra brake system took up extra space in the AR wheels which required a re-design of the wheels AND rear hubs to what the majority of Model A cars have now. And a lot of earlier cars were "retrofitted" with the true Emergency brake. So they're kind of an exception (and command higher prices) here stateside.

Check out the Service Bulletin book if you can. Ford devotes like four pages (quite a bit on a single subject) describing the improved brake system.

Joe K

[Floats]

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Tks Joe,
I'll have a look.
Regards
Chris

[Fred K-OR]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

The edge of the hub is about 1" and I think the later ones are about 1 1/4". The hub center is a little different also.

Tom is correct on this. The ones I had I measured the edge of the hub at about 1 1/4" vs 1 1/2". But Tom's measurements may be more accurate than mine. But the early 28 21" will not work on the later 21"-do not try it!

[Joe K]

What (if any) is the difference between the 26-27 wire wheels (option?) from the 28 AR wheels?

I've seen the 26-27 for sale as such but wondered if they'll fit the later car.

Joe K

[Tom Wesenberg]

Joe, I've wondered the same thing. I think the T wire wheels have an even smaller hub, but there must be a T expert out there that would know. I'm sure Brent Terry knows the difference.

[w.michael]

Don't all "single brake system" cars have the left hand emergency brake lever? (I guess that would be a right hand emergency brake lever on RHD cars, or would it?)

[Drive Shaft Dave]

I believe the T wheels were 5x5 , Model A is 5x5 1/2.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by w.michael

Don't all "single brake system" cars have the left hand emergency brake lever? (I guess that would be a right hand emergency brake lever on RHD cars, or would it?)

Yes, you are correct on both.

[dlshady]

Here are some photos that should make it pretty easy to spot the differences.

Early 28 (AR) on the left, later 28-29 on the right:


Model T wheel:


Early 28 (AR) wheel:


Later 28-29 wheel:


Model T on the left, Early 28 (AR) on the right:


Early 28 (AR) on the left, later 28-29 on the right:


And as Drive Shaft Dave mentioned, the Model T wheel does indeed have a smaller bolt circle (among other differences).


Hope this helps a little.



Deron

[Drive Shaft Dave]

Excellent photos and text.

[JackA]

Ouch, I have a single brake. That means I eventually replace the rear brakes, hubs, and at least two wheels. My Emergency brake handle is on the right, but my pickup has been built from parts from several vehicles.

[Gary Karr]

JackA, Why replace everything. You can get great service out of your truck using the original early brake system. If you choose to convert it to the later system, you will be changing a lot of things, including the gear shift housing (on top of the transmission.)

[Joe K]

Plus one to above. I would leave an original car original. Fords original evaluation of the e-brake as an adjunct to the normal braking system is probably correct. And failure of the mechanical system is likely to be one wheel at a time rather than the complete "tits up" failure of a hydraulic system.

I.e. the mechanical system is inherently less susceptable to failure due to non-interrelated braking components. Failure of one component does not mean failure of all.

Meanwhile your truck is a survivor. I'd keep it that way.

Joe K

[JackA]

OK! I just thought it was a safety issue, but I guess not.