Ok. Been putting this off, Along with steering! Now I’m gong to conquer it! I traded for this rear with no drums. I thought it was 57 9” first. Wrong. Then found out it was 49-56 for car. Pumpkin comes out front of rearend. Now. Bolt pattern is 5 x 4.5. But it. Needs 11” drums. The ford had 10” and the Mercury had 5 x 5.5 like the truck pattern. Thought maybe station wagon? 55-56. I guess they have a rear cover. There was a tag that said 3.78 and wad-4025a. I can’t find a drum to work!!! Educate me!!
Ford used both 10" or 11" brakes thru the early 50's. I don't know what determined what was used though.
I looked on rockauto.com, they show 11" shoes for the rear on a 55 car. They don't list a drum for it. https://www.macsautoparts.com/ford_mercury_late/rear-brake-drum-11-x-2-1-4-ford-only.html (yes, I've heard bad things about macs lately....)
I’ve searched and came up with a few numbers to try. That one seems like it would work but no other dimensions given except 11”. I have a set of drums and backing plates etc from a 9” I used in my 55. They are 11” and 5x4.5. Worst case is a swap over, but I’m hoping to Id this. $150 per drum is silly prices when I can get a used 9” complete for 250-300. Problem is my 4 link is all welded to the axle. I assumed I’d be able to find drums. Ugh.
Mopar had 11 inch rears with the 5x4 1/2 lug pattern. CheckFits All 1965 To 1974 B & E Bodys With 8 3/4 rear. Some jeep Cherokee with dana rears had 11 with same bolt pattern not sure I'd 1 3/4 or 2 inch wide. Might need some machining or backing plate mods.
1952-54 Fords used 10'' brakes on the rear the same shoes as 1967-71 Mustangs our guys in the 1952-59 Ford Social group use the Mustang hardware kits to upgrade to self adjusting brakes. Some of the guys have done rear end swaps so you could use 1952-54 backing plates on this rear end since the car is light 10" should work fine.
Have you tried the drums you already have? Your pic of the backing plate/brakes looks identical to the ones on my '58 9" that I have apart. Post pics of the diff, front and rear.
Ok. Problem solved. Stole the 10” backing plates off the 9” wec-k fairlane rear I threw under my 55 chevy. I put disc on and saved all this stuff!!!! Great save. They were 10. X 2.5. They didn’t work. Had to use 65 Mustang 10x 1.75 drums. They worked and fit the backspacing. Had to clearance the lug holes slightly. The hub was perfect. Ordered all my brake parts and I’ll snap some pics. Like everyone said those 11 x 1 3/4 are tough to get. ESP on 5x 4.5. The trucks are 5.5 which seem easier to find get.
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