3600 Front axle/brakes

[playinsafe44]

I have a 1950 Chevy 3600 with the original Huck style brakes. I bought and found 1953 3600 axles that have the more "modern" style (bendix?) brakes. The front axle has new king pins, so I'd like to swap the axles front and rear. Is there anything I should know before doing this? Also, the front axle did not have the brakes assembled, but all the parts seem to be there (in boxes). Does anyone have a picture of how to assemble them?

I'd like to put new seals in the front, add ball joints, and add a sway bar. Let me know if you have any suggestions!

[mr48chev]

All I can say is block the truck up good and solid under the frame just behind the springs and squirt plenty of rust solvent on the U bolts..

On the brakes, short(or less ) lining in front and long or the one that has more (area not thickness) in the rear. Put the adjuster on so the star wheel can be reached with the brake spoon though the slot in the backing plate.

I'm not finding the right photo online and all my manuals are out in the garage. If someone else doesn't post a photo I'll see if I can dig one out.

Now on this one you have to use your imagination a bit and eliminate the park/emergency brake rod that runs between the shoes and the lever that works it. This is actually the Bendix brakes off the left rear of a Ford Pickup but if you can see past the Ford and the rear brake gear you see how the shoes are mounted, how the springs are hooked up for a rig that does not have self adjusting brakes.



Hooking up the spring on the bottom can be a bit tricky. I usually fasten one shoe on the backing plate and then put the spring in it and the other shoe and then put the adjuster between them and swing the second shoe into place and hold it with one hand while putting the nail.pin though it so I can put the hold down spring on. Then put the washer piece on top and put the return springs That trick saved me a lot of trying to hook the bottom spring and gouging holes in the lining with the brake spring pliers over the years I did brake jobs every

[playinsafe44]

Thanks, that will help with the brakes.

I also have to install the spindles, gaskets, bearings, and seals. Do you have that info as well?

[playinsafe44]

Anyone have a copy or excerpt from the assembly manual?

[whitedog76]

If the 53 axle is rebuilt, you shouldn't need to swap the spindles. Hubs will be the same, but bearings different. OEM seals are felt, I suggest upgrading to a modern seal. Rockauto or the Timken catalog will have the info.

[dwcsr]

You will need to use the hubs and bearing from the 53 if you use a 53 axle.
53 up has a thicker spindle.

[whitedog76]

Also, on that note. There are differences in kingpin length of the early vs. late axles. The later spindles are taller, require longer kingpin.

[playinsafe44]

How do I assemble the spindles? Seal, dust shield, etc? This is for the 53 3600 front axle.