5 replies to this topic

[unburntfuelinthemorning]

Are the front hubs for disc brake models able to be used on drum brake models?  Apart from the caliper mounting lugs are there other differences?

[Spider]

No.

 

There's no mounting lugs on them for the Drum Brake Backing Plate.

 

I know, for Drum Brakes now, pickings are getting slim for some new bits.

[Tupers]

Are you asking if you can fit drum brakes to disc hubs or if a disc hub assembly will fit onto a previously drum braked car?

If it’s the first the most there’s no suitable way to mount the drum backplate to a disc hub.

If it’s the second then yes the suspension mounting points and tapers are the same on drum and disc braked cars.

[Spider]

By chance, I had a look at both types of hubs today.

 

I haven't made any measurements but it might be possible to do some turning on a Disc Brake Hub and then drill & Tap the hole you need to convert one.

 

I'll post up some photos later.

[Spider]

There does appear to be 'meat' in the right places for drilling and tapping

 

 

The 'face' that the Backing Plate would sit against would need machining to get a flat surface for it to bolt up to, I've indicated this area with the Blue arrow.. Around the lower part of the hub, this is fine, but around the top, near the steering arm, in the Disc hub, this is for the most part, unmachined and just a raw casting.

 

The Red Line here is to help distinguish where the top of the Drum Brake Hub is and the Steering Arm starts.

 

However;-

 

 

The 'nose' on the Drum Brake hub is a little longer than that of the Disc type. I didn't measure it but it's around 1 - 2 mm and by the time this is machined back, that would increase to around 3 mm.

 

Some reasonably accurate measurements would need to be made, from the Bearing Register in the Hub as a reference point and a spacer likely added between the Drum Brake Backing Plate and the Hub, but at a 'quick glance' this maybe possible I'd say.

[unburntfuelinthemorning]

I was asking if drum brakes could be fitted to disc hubs.

 

So it is possibly possible but not a straight-forward job.

 

Thanks for the detailed answer.