Grigg,
I haven't really looked at newer brakes; newer than '72 anyway. The shoes and springs and drums are available for the '68 - '72 3/4 ton 12" brakes for cheap. From several flaps. If I have to adapt down the road, I'll do it then. Since I'm swapping the rear brakes, I'm going to do a disc upgrade up front. That should slow her down, even with a trailer!
Mike,
From what I understand, the Eaton HO52 is the same basic design from 1948 to 1972. The center section has some changes through the years, but are interchangeable in their entirety; meaning, a center section from a '70 will fit the banjo housing of a '48.
The ends of the axle tubes are the same. The inner and outer bearings and races are the same. The oil seal is the same. The distance between inner and outer bearings are the same. The overall width changes at some point. The axle shafts that I have from the '68 are longer on both sides than the shafts from my '50.
The brakes went through three changes. Forty-eight through '52 are Huck brakes. Fifty-three and later are Bendix brakes; with a width change in '68(I think) from 12" x 2" to 12" x 2 1/2". I don't know if there was a backing plate flange change between Huck and Bendix in '53, but the flange for the 2 1/2" Bendixes is 1 3/8" inbound from where the Huck's is. (I have photos of the difference on Photobucket in the brake system folder [see link]).
Maybe someone else will chime in regarding the Huck to 12" x 2" Bendixes flange position. I don't know if the '53 to '67 Bendixes are a no fuss direct swap.
Thanks again,
Gary
