Brake drum question

gbarber

Member

Jan 26, 2004

158

0

17

delaware, ohio

Sep 29, 2005

#1

• Sep 29, 2005

• #1

I am trying to rebuild the rear drum brakes on my '66 8-inch rear. I bought new drums at NAPA, but the center hole is too small to fit over the center of the hub on my rear axle. The hub is approximately 2 3/4" in diameter. The new drums have a center close to only 2 3/8".
The drums are 10" diameter. The shoes I took off the car were 1 3/4" wide.
Is 2 3/4" the normal size of the hub for a '66 V8 car? I don't know all of the history of this car, and I wasn't sure if maybe the rear axles had been changed at some time.

 

rbohm

Founding Member

Apr 12, 2002

6,698

550

204

tucson,az

Sep 29, 2005

#2

• Sep 29, 2005

• #2

sounds like you have later model axles. the early cars had smaller center holes. try getting a brake drum from say a 68 mustang with the same settup as your 66.

 

1

19stang66

Member

Apr 16, 2003

689

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16

Sep 30, 2005

#3

• Sep 30, 2005

• #3

I bought rear 10" brake drums for my 66 from NAPA. I have the 8" and had no problems.

 

gbarber

Member

Jan 26, 2004

158

0

17

delaware, ohio

Sep 30, 2005

#4

• Sep 30, 2005

• #4

I checked with NAPA. The drums they have listed don't show the I.D. of the center hole. They ordered a different set today to see if the hole is larger. I don't know if that will work though, because I think these are for 2" brakes.

 

gbarber

Member

Jan 26, 2004

158

0

17

delaware, ohio

Sep 30, 2005

#5

• Sep 30, 2005

• #5

Well, 10" X 2" brakes weren't the answer. They have the same smaller size hole.
According to NAPA's tech line, the drums that I need are probably off a '74 Maverick. They have the larger size center hole.

Now, I just realized that the previous owner must have replaced the passenger side axle with a different style axle. My driver side axle is the original 2 3/8" center, and the passenger side is the larger 2 3/4".
Should I replace the axle with the correct, smaller axle, or should I continue to use the mismatched set?