VN disc brakes onto bedford diff

[shaginwagin]

I have finally started the addition of VN disc brakes to the standard bedford diff,    ( I am going to get the diff ratio changed to suit the V6 and 4 speed auto)      I have the complete VN diff.   So far the bracket for the handbrake shoes and disc calipre, the 4 bolt holes attaching the bracket to the diff have been welded up and ground smooth and will be redrilled to suit bedford pattern.  It is also necessary cut out the the centre of the bedford backing plate as this will have to be used  when the bedford axle is put back together.  Pics are in my gallery ( on page 6 of the gallery) will have further update soon.   

[shaginwagin]

 Finally got it all typed up , as there are some 13 pics i will put them in my gallery (page 6) 

 VN disc brake on standard Bedford diff (long wheel base single wheel ) I have the complete VN doner car so V6 motor/gear box and all the electrics will be transplanted  This is a prototype and wooden spacers/some metal brackets will be refined and upgraded.  To start with  you need to remove the backing plate from the bedford diff, cut the centre out of the plate so that you end up with a sort of spacer, cut it the same size as the outside of the diff housing pics 1 and 2. 





 obviously do both sides at the same time unless you want to practice on one side then do the other side.  Before removing the the vn backing plate measure the distance between the front face of the backing plate and the front face of the axle where the disc fits pic 3 so that when you later make the spacers they are the correct thickness to make the calipre and rotar  operate correctly.




Next take the backing plate from the vn ( it is the part that holds the brake calipre and the hand brake shoe components) mark the plates drivers /passenger side, this is necessary for later on..  weld up the 4 bolt holes and grind the weld flat both inside and outside. Pic 4,5 and 6.   







Now using the cut down bedford backing plate,place this over the vn backing plate(the flat section  will be on or over  the slot for the hand brake mechanism vn).   Mark the new 4 bolt holes to suit the bedford pattern.  This  may be a bit fiddley, should have the centre circles overlapping about 3 to 4 mm. And the new top bolt holes will just touch holes you previously welded up  It is important to    have the holes in the correct  position. Sorry I didn”t take a pic of this. 
Next part is to cut the backing plate into 2 pieces so that it will fit over the axle between the bearing securing cover and the end of the axle. Pic 7. 



now this cut is a bit flexable, and is  offset towards the top of the plate.  Having said that I made the cut about half way between the top bolt hole and the hole that locates the pin for the brake shoes. Pic 9. 



mark the line for the cut, BEFORE YOU MAKE THE CUT  you need to drill and tap a hole ( I used a 5mm bolt)  each side of the cut and attach a small plate to keep the backing plate circular pic 8. 



 this small plate can be removed and the backing plate cut into 2 pieces. 

Now working on the drivers side of the bedford diff use the passenger side vn backing plate and bolt it to the diff housing (need longer bolts) pic 10 



also have to bolt on the small plate over the 2 joins in the backing plate( the slot in the backing plate will then be clear of the diff housing (flat part of diff housing thats why I changed passenger and drivers side backing plates over ) so the hand brake mechanism    continues to be operational pic 11. 



Measure the distance between the face of the backing plate and the face of the axle  and make spacer blocks the difference between the 1st measurement you made of the vn (pic 3) and the one you now have on the bedford it will be about 10 to 12 mm. Pic 12



(wooden spacer can be trimmed and shaped to fit then when you have the correct size make your steel spacer to the finished size pic 13)



With the backing plate and the two small plates attached to the  backing plate, the temporary spacers the fun bit starts  with fitting the handbrake shoes.  There isn't much room but it does fit. The brake shoe may just catch on the lower bolts but with the slightly shorter correct size bolts it should clear. Pic  14 



The caliper and the splash plate can be attached for a dry run see what it looks like.   The bedford axle will need to be machined down for the rotar to fit and the vn stud pattern drilled. I will add the pics for this when I get this part done.   The calipre will be to the rear of the axle and the handbrake mechanism is now at the top of the axle (instead of the bottom on the vn)  and as a result of changing passenger and driver sides the handbrake operates correctly pic 15. 





   I hope that this is helpful and of some interest to all.

[Warren]

Julian

Hope you don't mind, I've edited your post to add the pictures.

Warren

[shaginwagin]

Thanks Warren I just wasn't sure how to put the pics in the thread. I was hoping someone might help  :-) Julian

[shaginwagin]

Update on the upgrade.
    Went to brother's (fitter and turner)at the weekend to work on axles turned them down to suit the VN disc but unfortunately had to take quite a bit off the axle flange, and almost all of the centre locating spigate ( think thats the right word) decided that there was not enough meat on the axle flange together with the remaining half bedford stud bolt hole to drill the holes for VN wheel studs plus unable to have studs fitting flush because of the webb on the back of the axle flange.   
 This is not an insurmountable problem going to check with local diff man about new axles to be made up. 

[ben]

gee thats a bummer shagginwagon

[restoreid]

Dont know why you dont just widen the VN diff TOO EASY & it's got the correct diff ratio too

[Bedfordcrazy]

Hey Julian, just checking to see if you got my email, if not i will post it here for you.

george

[shaginwagin]

Hi George  been having trouble with computer  its just about time to throw it away and get a new one  just checked but no sign of email
I have been using another computer in the house when its available, or the you bute mobile phone.... Wouldn't hurt to put info on here then others will know what to do about axels...
Thanks. Julian

[Bedfordcrazy]

Hey Julian, yep computers are like beddies, fantastic when they a working fine, dam if you dont miss them when they are playing up. lol. 

Ok, for the rear disc brakes we bought a set of EA Falcon rear brakes from the wrecker to start with, and this is the truth, the only real modification we had to make was to the backing plate. 2 of the holes were out so we drilled 2 new ones, and it bolted straight up. We also had to cut the centre out of the drum brake cover thingy majig to use as a spacer between the axel and the backing plate. In all honesty, the rear brakes were the easiest modification of all the custom mods we did. Once we had the brakes fitted we just bought a new set over the counter. BEST part, to be able to buy parts new over the counter for a beddy after almost 40yrs. Hope this helps Julian. Have a look in my album, i think i have pics of each step in there, if not let me know and i will grab pics from my old computer and post them here.

george.