'34 to later axle compatibility

Park_W
Park_W Senior Contributor
edited November -1 in HUDSON
Anyone know if drums for a '34-'35 will fit OK on the '36-'51 axles? We're considering putting a '51 axle under a '34T, and want to keep the original mech. brakes (no comments about that, please). I believe the '34 backing plate will bolt to the later axle housings, but not sure about the '34 drums fitting on the axle shafts themselves.

Comments

  • Geoff
    Geoff Senior Contributor
    If the backing plates will interchange you should have no problems with the hub and drum assembly, as the tapers are the same. I presume you have checked the width? I know the '34's were narrower track than '36 and later.

    Geoff.
  • Taper on the axle and in hub is the same, BUT not enough of the axle sticks out enough to even put a nut on it and the drum does not come close to the backing plate
  • Park_W
    Park_W Senior Contributor
    Geoff, the stepdown axle is about 2 inches narrower than the '36, so I figure it would be about right on a '34. Haven't actually measured it yet.
  • Stepdown axle fits fine after you move the spring pads, !!!BUT!!! read my reply before, You cannot put early backing plates and early drums on a stepdpwn axle, they dont fit. at least 33 parts don't.
  • Geoff
    Geoff Senior Contributor
    If the '34 axle is 2" narrower you may have problems with the tyres rubbing against the inner fender when cornering. This use to happen with my '35 Terraplane when I tried running 650.16" tyres on it. There are different part numbers for '33, '34, and '35 drums, so you will just have to fit things up and see if they fit before going ahead. Otherwise you could just ust the step-down axle complete and modify the drum for the 16" wheel, and use the hand brake linkage.

    Geoff.
  • I have a Dana 44 out of a stepdown in my 33 Terraplane , fits perfect as far as width. If you want to use the late drums , you are going to have to make spacer/adapters approx. 1" thick
  • Park_W
    Park_W Senior Contributor
    Thanks much for the advice, gents. We've got our options identified, it seems. And I guess this means that friend David Horsley, in UK, is going to have a challenge putting the '36 rear drums I supplied him (with all else for hydraulics), on his '34H.
  • Geoff
    Geoff Senior Contributor
    Oops! '34 Hudson had two different spec rear ends. Short wheelbase used the same unit as the Terraplane, whereas the l.w.b. models had a wider unit with 5 stud wheels, longer axles and bigger brakes drums. So the equation may have changed a little!

    Geoff.
  • You are right. Diff ball game. If he needs imfo on how to put hydralic brakes on his car I could supply him with any imfo he needs, Very easy using all hudson parts with no cutting or butchering. Been there / Done that
  • Geoff
    Geoff Senior Contributor
    If it's a l.w.b. '34 H it will have a 5 stud wheel, which should fit the step-down axle. why not just use the hand brake linkage? would be just as efficient as the original mechanical brakes.

    Geoff.
  • Park_W
    Park_W Senior Contributor
    It's a Terraplane, unfortunately. Maybe my friend will decide to just write a check to the ROC for a set of the 3 5/9 gears! I've got a post '38 diffy he could use.
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