Flanged axles on a 54 Commander

[pdrnec]

I put a set of flanged axles on my 54, knocked the hubs out of the drums and put it all together. Oddly enough, there was an issue (/sarcasm).

The center hole on the drum is about 3.1" diameter. The end of the axle is 2.6", leaving half an inch of slop. Makes the drum shift on braking and feels appropriately hinky.

The studs that were on the hub have shoulders that make the wheel center nicely. The studs on the axle do not, allowing slop in the axle, though the lug nuts center the wheel nicely.

Anybody know if Lark 10" rear drums will work on 54 C/K backing plates with the flanged axle? Or better yet, 65/66 flanged axle rear drums like SI has in stock?

[sbca96]

Press the studs out of the old hub and into the new axles? Buy some round
stock with the correct ID and OD needed? Find studs (Napa) shouldered in
the OD needed? There are options to continue using your original drums.

There are a LOT of studs available, my disc conversion uses Dodge truck
studs in the Studebaker hubs to center a '94-'04 Mustang rotor. Some time
at your local Napa with the dimensions of what you need should do it.

Tom

[31Streetrod]

The flanged axle kit should have had two centering rings/spacers to center the drum on the axle end. If they came from Phil Harris (Fairborn), just give him a call and I'm sure he will make it right.

[pdrnec]

Got my answer, seems the kits sold out here on the west coast aren't Fairborn's kit but a poor copy of them. I feel badly about buying them now, not just because they don't work properly.

I spoke with Phil Harris, what a gentleman. He's sending me a couple of spacers that I hope will work with the knock offs even though it wasn't his kit. He's surely won my business from now on.

[31Streetrod]

Pat, what's up with the Italian Larks? Any progress? Any pics?

[sbca96]

There is a knock off kit? First I have heard of this. Where did you get it?

Tom

[JDP]

Got my answer, seems the kits sold out here on the west coast aren't Fairborn's kit but a poor copy of them. I feel badly about buying them now, not just because they don't work properly.

I spoke with Phil Harris, what a gentleman. He's sending me a couple of spacers that I hope will work with the knock offs even though it wasn't his kit. He's surely won my business from now on.

One vendor asked Phil for some info on his axles early on, than copied them for his own resale. If the axles came from that guy, Phil's spacers should work.

[PackardV8]

Just asking; why didn't you call the vendor who sold you the axles without spacers? While Phil Harris is going above and beyond to help, the seller who caused the problem should be the one to correct it.

jack vines

[pdrnec]

I got them through Studebakers West - I assumed (yeah, I know) that they were a reseller for the original kits, was just hoping to save on shipping.

[pdrnec]

Pat, what's up with the Italian Larks? Any progress? Any pics?

They are stored safely away out of the elements, I'm looking for a museum interested in restoring one or both, business ain't what it used to be and while I'm doing OK, I don't have the necessary discretionary funds to do them up right.

[pdrnec]

Got my answer, seems the kits sold out here on the west coast aren't Fairborn's kit but a poor copy of them. I feel badly about buying them now, not just because they don't work properly.

I spoke with Phil Harris, what a gentleman. He's sending me a couple of spacers that I hope will work with the knock offs even though it wasn't his kit. He's surely won my business from now on.

Problem solved. Phil sent the adapters, perfect fit. Tires are gonna get expensive, just laid rubber through 1st, 2nd and chirped into 3rd.

Grinning.