Just picked up 54 Chevy car front brakes, complete from spindle to dust cap to install on the front of my 50 to replace the Huck brakes. Hoping to hear from others who've performed similar swap. Do the spindles need to be swapped out? I know the backing plates, shoes, hardware, and drums are different. Anything else I should look out for? I have an ECI dual master cylinder setup. Also, did you upgrade to roller bearings? Thanks in advance for your response
You don't need the spindles. I took Mr. Squrriels advise and used the same old rollers. Saved the money for something else. You have two sets of bearings I'm betting you have plenty of good left. Match used bearings to their same races. This is my uneducated opinion.
I agree with 325W, now it's been forty years since I installed 54 brakes on 1938 Spindles, but his description is exactly as I remember it.
RRC, I'm just about to change out my TRUCK Hucks with Bendix. I have over 100,000 miles on these Huck brakes, due for another set so I'm going to the Bendix which are wider, greater surface area, meaning, I should stop a little better. Huck stuff is available but the drums are 3X as much$. I am going to use the roller bearings, again 100k miles on the ball bearings, just going to replace the whole of the wheel with new.
When I did my '49 Chevy it was easy - you do need the spacers behind the backing plates to the spindle that is used on the Bendix brakes.
I did the Huck-Bendix swap with tapered roller bearings. One of the best improvements I've ever done on the truck.