Thread: Can someone please explain hub/drum offset

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I was asking a few rodders about front hubs for a 52 Ford F1. One said any Ford F1 or F100 up the the early 60s will fit, only the offset is different. Another said because of the offset, only the 48-52 F1 will fit. Can someone explain offset, and how it can affect the fit of a hub to a spindle???

I see 17 people looked at my post but didn't answer. Maybe they were looking for the answer too. Well, I found it in another forum. Offset, (opposite of backspace) is the distance from the center of the spindle, a rim sits on a hub. In other words, if your front hub is 1/2" offset, then your rims/tires are 1/2"closer to the fender. A 1/2" backspace will closer to the frame. It has nothing to do with the way a hub fits on a spindle... I'm off to the junk yards to look for hubs.

If you don't have any luck locally you might try Dennis Carpenter (just type it in to the search engine). They make a lot of parts for the Ford guys. They have a pretty good catalog for the 48-52 Ford trucks. Some of the parts seem a little pricey and other are pretty reasonable.

It seems like when I was doing 51/52 Ford trucks thay had front drums. You might also keep an eye on E Bay (right now all thats seems to be on there are a pair of rears).

Need info on this look up Bob's F100 parts and restoration, cool website. They have been very helpful in knowlege and parts for my '56 pick up. They are in Riverside, CA. Phone # on Web page.

Originally posted by lakota
I see 17 people looked at my post but didn't answer. Maybe they were looking for the answer too. Well, I found it in another forum. Offset, (opposite of backspace) is the distance from the center of the spindle, a rim sits on a hub. In other words, if your front hub is 1/2" offset, then your rims/tires are 1/2"closer to the fender. A 1/2" backspace will closer to the frame. It has nothing to do with the way a hub fits on a spindle... I'm off to the junk yards to look for hubs.

dif. yrs. may have dif. off set hubs, but in any given yr. you dont have a choice on what the off set is. thats why they make off set wheels. you cant go to the parsts store and tell the man you wont a 1/2 off set hub for a 1950 ford 100 instead of a 3/4 off set. hes not gonna know what youer talking about. might be a dif. in 1950 to 1953 but the book is not gonna go by the off set.

New info update:

I checked a dozen websites and made several long distance phone calls. Here's what I found...

For a 48-52 Ford F1 pick-up:

You can swap 48 to early 60s F1/F100, 11" front hubs/drums.
BUT, you've got to do it as a hub and drum set.

You CANNOT mix-n-match one years hub with another years drum because of the OFFSET/BACKSPACE.

Too much offset and the drum won't meet the backing plate. Too much backspacing and the drum slams against the backing plate and wont meet the hub.

The fit of the hub to the spindle is determined by the Wheel bearings.

Originally posted by lakota
New info update:

I checked a dozen websites and made several long distance phone calls. Here's what I found...

For a 48-52 Ford F1 pick-up:

You can swap 48 to early 60s F1/F100, 11" front hubs/drums.
BUT, you've got to do it as a hub and drum set.

You CANNOT mix-n-match one years hub with another years drum because of the OFFSET/BACKSPACE.

Too much offset and the drum won't meet the backing plate. Too much backspacing and the drum slams against the backing plate and wont meet the hub.

The fit of the hub to the spindle is determined by the Wheel bearings.

looks like what it gets down to is how wide is the brake shoe. the width of the shoe would determan how wide the drum would be. you've got to do it as a hub and drum set, and thats why i said you wouldnt have a choice in any given yr.