5 Spoke spiders V 6 Spoke Spiders

Hi guys, I have 6 spoke spiders on the front on my 1977 K125' I have seen 5 spoke spiders also
fitted to some of these early model Kenworths. What was the change from 5 to 6 based on. I.e. Was it a different manufacturer, on was there a problem with the 5's.? And finally are the brake drums the same size between the two?

the 5 spoke were the early ones 6 spoke were able to carry more weight // by changing to a lighter spider you will be altering your compliance /you stand the chance of not bieng able to redgister your truck -its like an eh holden standard drum brakes you can fit hr disc brakes because your improving the standards however you cant go backwards cheers don

Thinkn
5 spoke for runn n Hwy n legal weight loads
6 spoke for off road n where potholes & corrigations live
6 spokes spread the pound n weight better than 5 spoke
have known with 5 spoke n light weight 2 piece rim the wheel tyre rim is slightky outa round and can only go back on spoke the same way it was removed
horses for courses
cya

just to add a cloud to the murky waters, my mighty single axle ACCO 6.2m tray rated at 16.5 tonne.... long story, now 15, anyway, she has six spoke spiders on the front. I have done lotsa looking n perving and see a completely random approach to inters and Atkinsons have either 5 or 6 spokes front, and can only assume Mr International had a box of assorted front axles and depended on the day of the week and his wifes favourite colour which ones got fitted where. Little sort trays/tippers, prime movers, bodgie drives and serious highway units, no obvious rule.... but that might just be Inters.

Rough roads makes sense Mr Swishenheimer.

The older Inters had the 6 spoke IH front,when they changed over to Rockwell front axles,the wheels were 5 spoke........As mentioned ,the 5 spoke rears generally force the rims out of round......six spoke dont..............incidentally IH had 8 spoke rears on the heavy duty Eaton double reduction axle ( the herringbone gears axle)

On the early Kwikasair KWs , the 5 spoke front spiders suffered with cracking near the area where the brake drum retaining bolts were located,
no problems with the six spoke (as I recall) ……. The 5 spoke rears (as well as the out of round situation ) also suffered with the back taper
cracking, and or. breaking off, caused mainly by over tightening I think...…………..
As for the drums …… 5 mounting holes verses 6 holes...……..
……………………..Billy...…………………..

I believe in the KWs the 5 spoke were 5 Ton axles and 6 spoke 5.5 ton ... Or around that anyway