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Late brake back plates on Bugeye

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drooartz

drooartz

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Okay, I've got the old rear brakes removed from the Tunebug, and was trying to see how the new backing plates are going to fit up (from the donor 74 Midget). Here's how I think they fit. Do I have this correct?

newbrakeback.jpg


This is the right side rear. Is this the proper orientation for the backing plate?
 
Yup, that is the closest that you'll get them. You will also need to have about 1/8" turned off of the brake drum rim to keep it from rubbing.
 
Trevor Jessie said:
You will also need to have about 1/8" turned off of the brake drum rim to keep it from rubbing.
Click to expand...
Is that from the backing plate or the drum itself?
 
Something about the late plates on early axles makes the drums rub against the plates. I have ground down the inner lip of the drums with a grinder and they work fine. Like Trevor said, about an 1/8" off the inside edge does the trick.
A wise move is to install the wheel cylinder before you bolt up the back plate due to it's orientation on the axle. Just easier that way.
 
I tried some rear backing plates off a late model (1500?) that had wire wheels (my 59 BE(948) has steel wheels). I don't know if that had anything to do with it, but I had interference from the get go when trying to install the rear hubs. The backing plates look like the right ones, but maybe they are not. On my car, The hydraulic lines were going to have to be moved as well, so I dropped the project and never got as far as fitting the drums. I now have disc brakes up front with the original BE configuration in back. I also had my MC resleeved to 3/4" on the brake side (left it at 7/8 on the clutch side)and have had no problems stopping. The car stops quickly without excessive pedal pressure.

I still have the backing plates with the new brake shoes and new wheel cylinders to go with it if anyone wants to give it a go on their car. Maybe I was doing something backwards when I was messing with this. If so, perhaps they are still good for someone that wants to do the upgrade. PM me and we can work out a deal. I thought I'd keep them around for a future upgrade, but what I have on the car right now works pretty good.
 
spritenut said:
A wise move is to install the wheel cylinder before you bolt up the back plate due to it's orientation on the axle. Just easier that way.
Click to expand...
I'm intending to install as much of the brake bits on the bench as I can before the assembly is bolted up -- I just loosely fit them for the photo. I've still got to paint the backing plates, though I should have all the bits in hand to finish this project up.

I'll post some pics for clarity before I start grinding anything, to make sure I'm going after the right part. Thanks! :smile:
 
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