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Ford brake drum conversion 120-130

posted by  davidjudd2 on  Thu Aug 15 15:31 CST 2019
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last visit: Wed Apr 30 18:19 CST 2014
[RELATED]

I was looking at the vclassics site and saw the post for changing to the ford axles and brakes for more safety and easier to get parts. Any body ever done the swap? What year and model ford would you get the parts from?

http://www.vclassics.com/archive/ford_drums.htm








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    posted by  someone claiming to be on  Wed Dec 31 18:00 CST 1969 [RELATED]

    I would like to share my personal experience on the subject of safety as it pertains to the rear axles and rear brakes used on Volvos with rear drum brakes.

    IN OVER 30 YEARS OF WORKING ON REAR DRUM BRAKE EQUIPPED VOLVOS WITH TAPERED AXLE SHAFTS, I HAVE NEVER, REPEAT NEVER, SEEN 1 OF THEM BREAK AN AXLE SHAFT!!!

    I am aware of 1 incident during a racing event where an axle broke back in the 1960's, but other than that, no direct experience with any broken axle shafts and we raced 1800 and 122 Volvos at dirt and pavement tracks.

    I have broken the spider gears in 1 rear end and helped break a posi in another Volvo. I even managed to break the welds securing an axle tube in my 122, but I have never broken an axle shaft.

    I have replaced many axle shafts for customers, but in most cases that was due to damage done when removing a stuck brake drum.

    I have seen cracks in the surface of some axle shafts and have changed them because they looked serious.

    The stock rear brakes are quite adequate and in fact the Ford conversion you reference uses the exact same sized brakes and I can get brakes shoes with performance linings for both styles of Volvo brake shoes.

    All the needed parts to maintain all of the manually adjusted rear drum brakes are still available and I usually have everything in stock, except for brake drums.

    I don't stock brake drums for several reasons. 1st, it is very rare that any of my customers has to replace a brake drum because of a failure that requires immediate replacement like a crack, so we usually have plenty of warning and therefore time to order new drums when needed. OE Volvo drums are quite expensive and since they don't move quickly. I often go over a year without selling any. OE drums are over $200.00 each, but a repros is now available for $100.00 each.

    However, I always keep a good used set of loaner drums just in case.

    --
    Eric
    Hi Performance Automotive Service (formerly OVO or Old Volvos Only)
    Torrance, CA 90502
    hiperformanceautoservice.com or oldvolvosonly.com



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      posted by  someone claiming to be on  Wed Dec 31 18:00 CST 1969 [RELATED]

      I used Rambler 10x2 rear drums (the rear brakes are by Wagner). To remove the studs from the Volvo hubs took 5 tons of force in a press. The center hole needed to be enlarged quite a bit an setting the drum up in a lathe was time consuming. I believe you can buy drums from Europe with out the hub. It was a science project I wouldn't do it again.



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        posted by  someone claiming to be on  Wed Dec 31 18:00 CST 1969 [RELATED]

        One-piece drums, i.e. drum and hub are in one piece and not shrunk together as originally made, are available and these are close to half the price of the originals. They are an outright sale and not exchange. Matching one-piece disc/hub units also available with the same sort of savings in cost. Eric may be stocking these. I have a pair of these discs to fit my Amazon due to bad warping of one of mine (overheated due to calliper seizure). They look to be excellent quality and I haven't seen any bad reviews of them. I think VP is stocking them.
        Drums here, discs on the appropriate page.
        https://www.classicvolvoparts.co.uk/parts.asp?carID=3&cID=49&scID=327&page=E_Rear_Brakes_With_Front_Discs_Single_and_Twin_Circuit


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          posted by  someone claiming to be on  Wed Dec 31 18:00 CST 1969 [RELATED]

          That was my 544 racer that broke the axel in a race, I then had Moser make me a set of custom Ford 9" axels I broke them also, I now have a complete rear end from a 242, I had the bolt pattern changed to match the front, that rear end is bullet proof .



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    posted by  someone claiming to be on  Wed Dec 31 18:00 CST 1969 [RELATED]

    Sorry I don't have any personal experience with the Ford brake drum swap, but I've heard that the rear Ford Ranger (9"x 2") drums from the mid to late '90's will work. I've also heard that Rambler American drums from the mid '60's will work too, but are probably getting hard to find.



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