Steering: Front spindle interchange

[omastreet@msn.com]

Working on stude rat rod on a 1955 chassis. Front brakes are 11 x 2 1/4. Drums are shot and the brake shoes #177 are hard to find. Can i use the front hubs off a 1961 lark and reduce brake drums to 10" with 10x 2 brakes, as #176 shoes are readily available. Basic questions is: Are all stude front spindles the same? Gary

[mausersmth]

I believe hubs were the same from '53 on.
Have you considered disks, like the Turner kit?

[r1lark]

Gary,

I'm assumng your car is a V8, since it has the 11" brakes? If you go to the 10" brakes, you are effectively converting the fronts to 6 cylinder brakes.

The brake shoes are readily available from Studebaker vendors:
http://studebakerparts.com/
http://www.studebaker-intl.com/
.....and my personal favorite: http://www.fairbornstudebaker.com/index.html

[1954khardtop]

The hub changed around '56 to use a more common bearing, but the spindle stayed the same. The hubs will interchange if you use the bearings that go with the hub. I would hesitate to go smaller on the brake diameter. Shoes are readily available from Stude vendors, why not keep the bigger brakes? I understand wanting to keep costs down, so why not look for good used drums? I just put disks on mine, I'll check the drums I pulled. If they're good I'll let you have them for shipping cost.

[omastreet@msn.com]

Have located some 11 x 2 1/4 shoes for around $100. Would be interested in your drums. They do not need be super good, just drivable. This car is going to be a rat rod so will be driven less than 5oo mi per year, mostly show/ parade. It is a 1961 hawk body on a stude 1955 chassis, windshield chopped 3" with a 56 buick 3- rear window removable top. Engine is a 454 bbc with t-10 4 speed. Thanks for your reply, from an old upstate new yorker living in idaho. Gary

[52hawk]

Hey I'd like to see pics of that!!!

[Jessie J.]

Engine is a 454 bbc with t-10 4 speed.

Yikes! I'd want the best brakes I could find.

[(S)]

Quote:=omastreet@msn.com;539536Have located some 11 x 2 1/4 shoes for around $100.

You are shopping at the wrong place for Studebaker Parts! You need to go here: studebakervendors.com

These Vendors are mostly all advertisers in our GREAT, free to Members, Monthly publication: Turning Wheels, you would have already found your shoes for half of that, if you had it.

[52 Ragtop]

The spindles changed in the "mid 53" run, The late spindles will drop the front end about 1/2" The A-2 and A-6 bearings will fit from 1951 up through the 1983 Avanti II's. The later spindles (when comparing to the early ones) the center line of the axle will be higher up on the spindle. Unless you have them side by side, it is VERY hard to see the difference.


Jim

[1954khardtop]

omastreet, I just checked, my drums are in good shape. I'll include the bearings and lug nuts. They are from a '54 so they use the large outer bearing, and the drivers side studs are left hand thread. PM me your contact info if your're still interested.

[omastreet@msn.com]

HAVE BEEN OUT OF TOWN COUPLE OF DAYS PICKING UP A CAR IN RENO, NV. WOULD LIKE T OF GET YOUR 11" DRUMS. CONTACT INFO: GARY J. ELLSWORTH 14975 OMA ST, CALDWELL, ID 83607. PHONE 208-863-812O. EMAIL: omastreet@msn.com. PLEASE LET ME THE SHIPPING COSTS ETC.. THANKS, GARY

[1954khardtop]

Gary, PM sent

[1954khardtop]

Gary, Shipped the drums today, you should have them next week.