A-body brake drums/Strange large bolt axle problem

A couple of years ago I bought a used set of Strange large bolt pattern stock length axles for the 8 3/4 rearend in my Dart. I've finally got around to test-fitting them before I have new bearings installed. I have run into a problem with the brake drums and the axle lug bolt flange. The axle flange measures 6 1/4" in diameter and the drum lug-hole mounting surface is only 5 3/4" in diameter. They are 10" drums and the flange on the small bolt axles I am removing measure 5 3/8" in diameter. I wasn't aware that I was going to have to change the drums to accomodate the axles (other than drilling them for the larger pattern). My question is, what drums will I have to get that will have a large enough mounting surface to accomodate the 6 1/4" flange on the axles?

You could take the axles and brake backing plate to a brake supply company and have them match everything up.

You may run into another problem- are the axles for A or B body brakes? The width is different and B bodys add 1" to the overall width of the rear.

I can't say for sure. When I bought them they were advertised as stock length large bolt pattern axles for an A-body 8 3/4 rearend. I assumed this meant that I could use the A-body drums by drilling the large bolt pattern in them. Is there a way of telling if the are for A or B-body brakes by looking at them?

Those aftermarket A body axles are made for use w a BBP 10 or 11" drum/backing plate unless they were special ordered for the stock SBP 1&3/4" shoes & corresponding 1&3/4" drums(& drums then redrilled to BBP) and a smaller flange. I would pickup a set of common BBP 10" drums/backing plates.

Quote:

---

You may run into another problem- are the axles for A or B body brakes? The width is different and B bodys add 1" to the overall width of the rear.

---

I installed one Strange axle on the passenger side and measured from the brake backing plate to the lug flange on the axle and did the same on the driver side which still has the small bolt axle in place. The measurement is the same.