Front drum backing plate gasket?

[gaertner_jan]

Guys, a quick question: we're restoring a 1968 F100 with front drum brakes. Is there supposed to be a gasket between the spindle and the backing plate? The rear axle utilizes backing plate gaskets, wouldnt the front also? Just cant seem to find anything anywhere...

Thanks! J

[1972hiboy]

http://www.fordification.com/tech/image ... ont_01.jpg


Looking at this, it looks like it doesn't have a gasket behind the backing plate but might utilize some sort of seal on the front side of the backing plate.

[gaertner_jan]

Hey Rich, yea I've seen that drawing. It irritates me because we have no further screw holes provided for a seal as pictured. There was definitely nothing like that there when we took it apart either but you can never know what a PO may or may not have done at some point in time.
At the moment I'm leaning towards not using/making a gasket. Any other opinions?

J

[1972hiboy]

Good Morning J, Honestly I think with the front backing plates a gasket is not necessary, I am thinking the rear backing plate gasket has something to do with gear lube oil control. Front wont have that issue.

[ultraranger]

As far as the rear end goes, oil control is handled by the axle seals. The purpose of the gaskets on either side of the drum backing plate is to keep fine particles of (abrasive) brake dust from getting into the axle bearings.

[1972hiboy]

As far as the rear end goes, oil control is handled by the axle seals. The purpose of the gaskets on either side of the drum backing plate is to keep fine particles of (abrasive) brake dust from getting into the axle bearings.

Ah there we go, that makes sense.

[Busboy]

Seems like I've seen some GM products with a white foam type gasket there. I would just lay a thin bead of your favorite gasket sealer and then assemble it. My concern is more to keep water out of the hub and bearings than anything else.

[gaertner_jan]

Hey guys,

thanks for the inputs! The grease seal should do the job of keeping any junk out of the bearings so I think I'll only apply a thin coat of gasket maker and bolt it all up.

thanks for the support! =) J

[ultraranger]

If you're going to use RTV, use the sensor safe kind (the version that doesn't stink). The ingredient in non-sensor safe RTV that makes it stink is Acetic Acid. The vapors from Acetic Acid are corrosive to bearings/steel.

[earlrjohnson]

My 68 has an O-ring behind the backing plate. I assume this is what they call the gasket.