1957 Ford 9 inch brake question

I have a 57 ford 9 inch rear housing and axles but no backing plates, drums or shoes. In the past I have found the drums and shoes to be 'no longer available. To use later model backing plates and drums there is an offset problem.
Has anyone found a solution to this? I did one time shim the axle bearings out by 1/8" then was able to use later model backing plates and drums


Thanks Larry

 

somebody makes complete brake kits for them...we've bought them before...

 

I ran into the offset problem, as well. They interchange up to the 1966 model year. I ended up with brakes from a 1966 Galaxie on the back of my coupe; still working fine over 20 years later.....

 

I used 66 Ford fairlane stuff on mine. had to drop down brake diameter but the parts were much easier to find! I think I had to machine the drums a bit though.....

 

Back before the advent of repro round back housings and new 11 inch brakes I used all the 57-59 Ford rearends I could find for my chassis business. To narrow the housing I used the 60-64 short side axle on the long side of the 57-59 rear and rebuilt so dam many 60-64 rear brakes I could do them in my sleep. They have the right offset 2.36 for the earlier rears.

 

I still use the 57 59 SW housings and purchase new brakes from Currie with the 2 3/8 offset. They are cheaper than rebuilding the old ones which are real hard to locate. We have a place in LA that will rebuild them but you just as well purchase new ones. I only use the large bearing housings which Currie has brakes for. If you are building a hiboy you can use the Buick rear backing plates with front Buick drums. They look real good and stop with the 12 inch shoes. I might have a set of drums and backing plates. I will PM you if I have them.

 

Pewsplace, are you using the large bearing housings? I have a small bearing housing and I need a brake set.

 

Reading on another post about rear brakes I believe I read that Explorer rear disks will work on this rearend with its backspace. Is this right? I thought that was a conversion for later model 9's

Larry

 

Check out Bronco web sites. I bought rebuilt backing plates for both big & little bearing housings. Price was reasonable and included new drums but being for a Bronco, they were 5 on 5 1/2 bc, which I like. Bronco Graveyard .com

 

its no good. why not just sell it to me. hahaha...

 

I took the backing plates and drums off of a 61-62 Ford Galaxie passenger car and installed them onto a 1957 Ford axle housing. The combination gave a wider brake shoe & drum because the backing plates had an offset to the inside of the axle housing.