Technical 1958 Edsel Ranger Front Drums: Anybody Making Them?

Long story short, I got my hands on a set of 1958 Edsel Ranger front drums and spindles for my project, and I really like the drums on this setup. Does anybody make a replacement front drum for the 58 Ranger?

 

What differentiates it from other 58 Ford passenger car drums?

 

I don't doubt that you could find something that would work, but they may not look the same...

 

It has the 5x5 bolt pattern. They changed it to 5x4.5 for the 59 Edsel. If memory serves correctly, the 58 Edsel Station Wagon was the only model that year to have the 5x4.5 bolt pattern.

You bring up a good point. If the 58 Ford drum matches the overall size and shape of the Edsel, then it wouldn't be far off to just re-drill the 5x5 bolt pattern into the Ford...

 

Pretty sure the only thing "different" about the '58 front drums is the bolt pattern... (I'm running '59 wheels/running gear on my '58,)

 

I really want to keep the 5x5 bolt pattern due to the rear end I'm using. Plus, I just like the look of this stuff.

 

I thought the Ranger and Pacer shared the Ford Fairlane platform in 1958, with the 5 x 4.5" , with the Corsair and Citation sharing the Mercury platform of 5 X 5". I have a 58 Citation rear that is 5 x 5. It is my understanding that all 58 wagon models shared the Ford 4.5" BC. All Edsels in 59 used the Ford pattern.
Anyway, Kanter still lists some of the drums for 58-59, but looks like all are the 4.5" ones. I know the rear Citation drums are not to be found.

 

As far as I know (which might not be far), the only Edsel with 5x4.5 in 1958 was the Wagon. Don't know why they decided on going with 5x5 for the rest, but its perfect for my project. Here's what I've got:

 

If the only thing that really is different in the drums is the bolt pattern, hand them to a machinist and ask them to re-drill them.

Any shop that has a vertical mill with a DRO, or a machinist that can handle a bit of the maths can knock this out in short order.

 

That's true.

 

I was intrigued and went back and pulled my book. You are indeed correct, all 1958 models except the wagon were 5 x 5. I stand corrected. All the 5 x 5 drums are a hard find. I am going to re-drill some f100 drums for my rear. I want to keep the Buick 5 x 5 pattern.
The Citation I pulled the rear out of last fall still had the front drums on it, but the yard has since closed and the car crushed.
Are your drums worn out? They look decent.

 

My drums are good fortunately. I guess what it comes down to is that I need to run them until I can't and worry about it then. I'd love to find something from the Ford catalog that only needs to be re-drilled for future maintenance. I just haven't found it yet...

 

If you have drums but they're worn out you could have them relined.

J&G Brake relining McHenry IL. 815-276-2578.
https://www.jgrelining.com/

 

Now you're speaking my language. Relining is exactly what I was thinking. I'd love to have two sets done at once just so I have a back up. I just have to find a second set.

 

Let us all know what that costs ya.

 

All of it. I'm willing to pay.

 

Also widen the search to 1957-1959 Mercury. Kanter is showing the front drum for the Citation available (p/n 04013A). The backspacing may be different but worth calling them.

 

The '58 Edsel shared a lot with the '58 Mercurys. I doubt anyone repops the drums. But you never know.

 

The Citation is a half inch wider than the Ranger. It's actually listed as the performance brake for Edsels from 1958. They list the 11x3 as a Citation, Police Car, or High Performance. What gets me is that Kanter also listed the Citation again along with the Station Wagon, but that isn't right because the Station Wagon was 5x4.5 bolt pattern. I'm going to have to call them...

I believe I actually have a set of hubs for a 58 Citation. Exciting...

 

Now, I just have more questions than answers. Riddle me this, Batman, is the hub different for a 1958 Edsel Ranger and a 1958 Citation? I'm thinking the other hub I have might be from a Mercury...

 

My book shows different part numbers for the two, but not dimensions. I believe the Citation, Corsair, and Mercury have the same hub.

 

I'm going to have to take a picture when I get a chance. The 1958 Edsel hub I have, which I believe is a Ranger, looks like a 55 T-Bird hub. The only difference is the bolt pattern. They even have the same bearings A2 and A6. The hub I took off my T-Bird looks nothing like these other two hubs, but it has the 5x5 bolt pattern and shares the same bearings as the other two...

I thought it was from a 58 Citation, but that doesn't make sense to me either. It's too different.

 

If anybody has a picture of a 1958 Ranger front drum on the car and a picture of a 1958 Citation drum on the car, I'd love to see them.

 

I found something that I hope translates. I can see it because I know what I'm looking at, but these pictures aren't that great. Turns out my stuff is from a 1958 Ranger. Check out this junkyard photo:


Now take a look at my drum. Take a special notice at the dish right where the wheel bolts to the drum:


Now take a look at a 1958 Citation:

The Citation is not as dished as the Ranger. This tells me that hub is the same for both cars, but the drum is wider for the Citation. This also tells me that you can update the Ranger's drums by using the Citation's drums and shoes. The wheel cylinders are also the same for both cars.

Now I have to prove it. I'll get some Citation drums and take some pictures once I have everything laid out.

 

Any updates on the drums?

 

The offsets were way too different for my spindle. I had to go back to stock 55 T-Bird front drums.