Info on brakes

johnfack

Hi to all.

About 18 months ago I realised a life long ambition and became the (3rd from new!) owner of the 1935 Railton Light Sports Tourer - I say THE because it is the only one (of just 2 made) that still sports the correct original sports body, the other one having been rebodied after the war in New Zealand. For those not familiar with the Railton LST, it has a Hudson 8 engine gearbox, chassis and running gear with a very light 2+2 body; it weighs less than 1 ton and was considered the AC Cobra of the 1930s.

I have also owned, raced, hill-climbed  (and just sold) a Railton LST replica since 1986 here in the UK. The replica had 10" brakes (iirc) with 1937 hydraulics, despite being a 1935 car. The original has special 11" (maybe off a Hudson limo?) mechanical brakes with different wheels, and I am having trouble to et them as I would like them. They are OK for road use but not for competition. I would like to fit 11" Hudson hydraulic brakes but I am having trouble finding out the information I need. Were these fitted from 1941 on, or were they still 10"?

Any info gladly received.

46HudsonPU

Welcome aboard! 

Good to have you.  I'm sure you'll find a wealth of information here.

You may also want to visit the Hudson Essex Terraplane Club website, and consider joining that Club - Members come for the cars, and stick around because of the great folks there!

We hope you enjoy your time here at the Hudson Essex Terraplane 'Open Forum' -

StillOutThere

The big brakes and wheels were in fact from the Hudson long wheel base models of '34-35 and were the Bendix Brake option for standard Hudsons (but not avail on Terraplanes).  You noted the brake size.  The wheel is I believe one half or one inch wider than the standard wheel and it is a 5-bolt wheel rather than the standard Hudson and Terraplane 4 bolt wheels.  These wheels were available your choice of wood spoke (last time offered) or as a wire wheel (also last offering at Hudson).  These wheels have their own special hubcaps as well as the wheel center is a different configuration but wood and wire share this hubcap.   VERY SPECIAL brakes wheels and tires for your very early "muscle Hudson."

bob ward

@johnfack The stepdowns, 48 to 54 used 11" brakes front and rear, the drums are cast iron. The front brakes came in wide and narrow brake shoe depending on whether it was a LWB or SWB car. Back brakes were all one width.

Re your front brakes, the stepdown backing plates will bolt up to your 35 front spindles, and the stepdown 5 bolt hubs will also fit with a little bearing swapping and the use of a spacer, the stepdown hub is 1/4" shorter than the 35 hub.

Fitting stepdown rear brakes to a 35 rear axle is only going to happen with some serious thought and a fair bit of machining. If you can get hold of a 36 rear axle, Hudson's first year for hydraulic brakes, 48 to early 52 stepdown rear brakes will bolt straight on.

@StillOutThere Thanks for the 34/5 big brake wood/wire wheel info, something else I've learned.