rear brake drums and hubs

[jiw1]

i'm sure its bin asked before but can't find it. 1939-42 front and rear brake drums have the hubs on the inside of the drum and 46-48 hubs are on the outside of the drum i was told.my question is are they interchangeable?can a front or rear inside hub and drum (39-42) be used on 46-48 car?and can inside hub drums be used on outside hubs.does anyone have pictures showing the difference between inside hubs and outside hubs also the difference between drums.(for stock hubs and drums) any info on these will help,thank you

[V8COOPMAN]

These years of drums and hubs are completely interchangeable on any 1940-'48 passenger car, as the "working" dimensions are the same on both versions. In other words, the wheel will mount on the same plane using either version, and the brake shoes line-up properly using either version. The rear hubs on both versions use the same taper angle for the fit onto the tapered axle. However, the drums ARE NOT interchangeable onto EITHER style of hub. DD

EARLY STYLE



Below....EARLY Resting on LATE



Below....EARLY STYLE Fronts



Below...LATE STYLE Front





Below....LATE STYLE Rears

[rich b]

Regarding interchangeability if you are using wire wheels; the balance weights on the outboard hub style will interfere with the wheel lip in most cases and need to be removed.

[jiw1]

v8,thank you great info.would you have pictures showing differences between early and late hubs without the drum and the drums alone? trying to identify some that i have here. rich, my plan is to use the two early rear hubs and drums on a 46 mercury,hoping it will work temporally till i have $ for new drums or good used ones.

[19Fordy]

Just to add to V8's info. Here's a 1940 Ford rear hub. Hope it helps. Goes on inside of drum.

[V8COOPMAN]

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Originally Posted by jiw1

v8,thank you great info.would you have pictures showing differences between early and late hubs without the drum and the drums alone? trying to identify some that i have here. rich, my plan is to use the two early rear hubs and drums on a 46 mercury,hoping it will work temporally till i have $ for new drums or good used ones.

If you look at the hubs you have, you can determine which one it is by which side of the flange is FLAT, where it mates-up to the drum. MOST of the LATE style flanges (front and rears) seem to have the square notch in the outer edge of the flange, as seen in this pic below at about 2:00 o'clock. DD

[flatford8]

Anybody else not seeing Coopmans pics?.......Mark

[grumppyoldman]

On the rear get the ones where the drum comes off without pulling the hub, which is a, PITA, also get the Lincoln style with the fins for better cooling. Speedway has them in stock I think.

[grumppyoldman]

P.S. the drums can be turned when needed and the old style where they come off as one piece can't because no one has the adapter to turn the back drums. Al