Thread: Followed Me Home, '33 Build

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Originally Posted by Henry Rifle

Roger,

If you use Explorer brakes on a large bearing 9", the spacers are absolutely necessary - unless you're using a set-up I haven't seen. They make up the difference between the outer bearing race and the retaining flange. Disc brakes fit on the axle differently from the drums. Without the spacers, the axles can move in and out about 1/4".

Currie stocks them, and so does Johns. The bad news is that they need to be installed between the bearing and the axle flange. I had to have my bearings pulled, then reinstalled. Of course, I had to do that anyhow. I had to replace my bearings with special units with an o-ring in the outer race to take the place of the stock axle seals. Whoever narrowed my axle hosed it up, and the seals wouldn't stay seated.

The spacers are a bear to keep in place while you bolt in the axles. I used a couple of dabs of silicone and essentially glued them to the outside edge of the bearing race.




Linky is here.

Of course, Kyle forgot them on mine . . .

I still haven't finished the interior of my '34. I kept intending to send it to a shop, but I couldn't quit driving it. Further, it won't get finished for a while. I'm heading to Naples, Italy for a three-year tour (civilian) with Navy Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC), and the car will be in storage all that time. Downside is no hotrodding. Upside is a chance to have all my living expenses paid for three years, and a chance to see a bunch of Europe.

Thanks for the heads up. I will look into a set of rings before going much farther. 406Rich, thanks for an alternate approach, too. I will do some research, but I doubt they are in place - my rear came from John's set for drums, and N&N sourced the disc package separately. It would have been too easy to overlook the spacers.
Jack, the tour in Italy should be a great time. Like you said, most expenses covered and you'll have opportunities to see parts of the world that are so rich in history. Stay in touch if it works out for you, and come to KC for a ride when you get back on this side of the pond.

Originally Posted by rspears

Thanks for the heads up. I will look into a set of rings before going much farther. 406Rich, thanks for an alternate approach, too. I will do some research, but I doubt they are in place - my rear came from John's set for drums, and N&N sourced the disc package separately. It would have been too easy to overlook the spacers.
Jack, the tour in Italy should be a great time. Like you said, most expenses covered and you'll have opportunities to see parts of the world that are so rich in history. Stay in touch if it works out for you, and come to KC for a ride when you get back on this side of the pond.

Roger,

You can do the washer trick with the spacers also - cut out a section to allow slipping them over the axle. I did that before I found out about the seal problem. At that point, I had to replace the bearings, so I had the shop drop them on before pressing on the new bearings.

When I'm done with my three years in Italy, I'm hanging up the slide rule and moving to Texas. I may stop in KC, though, since my youngest son and his family live there.