Safety Hubs or Clips

[32Bee]

Just read a forum comment about using safety hubs or clips on a Ford rear end.
Would like to have a better explanation of what they arena how they work.

Peter

[ford38v8]

Peter, safety clips are simply a small piece of steel formed into a hook shape, that bolts to the backing plates under the two brake cylinder bolts, with the hook end up and over the edge of the brake drum. Should an axle break, the wheel will want to walk off the end of the housing, but the safety clip is there to prevent it.

[Kube]

I can tell from first hand experience, they work very well. I had installed a pair on a friend's '48 coupe years ago. A year or so later, the left axle broke. Instead of the wheel / tire assembly running out of the wheel-well, it stayed within that area until he was able to stop safely. there was no sheet metal damage whatsoever.
As I recall, C&G sells these...

[alanwoodieman]

Vern Tardal also sells them. I made my own using a short piece of 3 x 2 seemless tubing

[rich b]

Safety hubs are a more involved deal; they are fitted over the hub and a retaining ring is welded to the hub, then the assembly is installed on the axle and the studs on the body of the safety hub extend thru the housing flange nuts are then installed securing the safety hub to the axle housing. If an axle breaks the safety hub captures the welded ring on the hub, preventing the hub and wheel from moving outward.

In the past, they were used and many times required for racing. Don't think they are commonly available anymore.

[19Fordy]

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Pete: Here's a few good threads that explains all you need to know.
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...drum+retainers

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...drum+retainers

Here's the story on the 39 Lincoln brake drum retainers I used to make for the MT Products brake drums. Stopped making them as it was not cost effective due to cost of water jet cutting small runs. But, idea might help others to make them.
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...drum+retainers

[RalphM]

I have a speedway pair on my AV 8, they fit ok, but when I go around a corner they rub the drums slightly. Is this is a problem with the retainer? Or is my rear end getting loose? I’m using 38 drums with the ribs in them. The retainer fit between the ribs so not a lot of clearance.

[JSeery]

Originally Posted by RalphM

I have a speedway pair on my AV 8, they fit ok, but when I go around a corner they rub the drums slightly. Is this is a problem with the retainer? Or is my rear end getting loose? I’m using 38 drums with the ribs in them. The retainer fit between the ribs so not a lot of clearance.

I'm not sure why cornering would change the rear axle (backing plate) to drum geometry unless something was loose enough to move around.

[grumppyoldman]

I installed a pair on my 41, they had to be revised (ground) to keep them from dragging on the drum groves, don't know if they will be effective since so much metal had to be removed. The spacers supplied with the kit didn't set them in the center of a grove, and they rubbed. Al

[JSeery]

Originally Posted by grumppyoldman

I installed a pair on my 41, they had to be revised (ground) to keep them from dragging on the drum groves, don't know if they will be effective since so much metal had to be removed. The spacers supplied with the kit didn't set them in the center of a grove, and they rubbed. Al

Who was the supplier of the kit you used?

[32Bee]

Thanks for all of the great explanations.

Peter

[38bill]

Originally Posted by RalphM

I have a speedway pair on my AV 8, they fit ok, but when I go around a corner they rub the drums slightly. Is this is a problem with the retainer? Or is my rear end getting loose? I’m using 38 drums with the ribs in them. The retainer fit between the ribs so not a lot of clearance.

I too have the ones sold by Speedway. I had to do a little grinding to get the clearance I wanted but it wasn't a big deal. I'm guessing that there is a lot of difference with the drums made over the years.

[grumppyoldman]

Got them from Mac's, don't have them on now since I replaced the hubs and drums. Will try them again in time. Al

[Tinker]

Originally Posted by rich b

Safety hubs are a more involved deal; they are fitted over the hub and a retaining ring is welded to the hub, then the assembly is installed on the axle and the studs on the body of the safety hub extend thru the housing flange nuts are then installed securing the safety hub to the axle housing. If an axle breaks the safety hub captures the welded ring on the hub, preventing the hub and wheel from moving outward.

In the past, they were used and many times required for racing. Don't think they are commonly available anymore.

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...ux-w-pics.151/

[grumppyoldman]

The common one's for sale now are just a piece of metal folded in a U shape and bolts on to the top two brake cyl. bolt holes with spacers and longer bolts. I have the drums with the groves in them, some times refered to as Lincoln style. Al

[TomT/Williamsburg]

I did not get mine from Speedway but I had to modify them none-the-less. They are cheap insurance though and worth a little bit of grinding/fitting imho ...

[19Fordy]

If you have the patience and tools you can make your own for the stock 40 using 1/8 in steel strip. Kind of fun to make your own stuff.

[Ken/Alabama]

Originally Posted by Tinker

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...ux-w-pics.151/

I wish someone would reproduce them again. I have two pair. They are the best.

[37fatfender]

I have MT Welding backing plates and the Speedway clips do not fit. The bolt spacing on the wheel cylinders is different. A rough measurement … the original wheel cylinder bolt spacing is 1 13/16...….the aftermarket MT wheel cylinder is 1 9/16...…..Anyone have any ideas?

[19Fordy]

Boling Bros. sells the clips you need.
http://www.bolingbrothers.com/brakes/