Re: Disc Brake Upgrade Reference Thread
here is a question I have not found answered yet. I have a 60 torsion bar truck. I want to convert to spring with discs. I read the write up on putting the late 70's early 80's subframe in but it requires some drilling and time. My question is will a 63 to 66 sub frame bolt right up to mine so then I can swap to the later disc conversion?
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Re: Disc Brake Upgrade Reference Thread
A '63-'72 front crossmember isn't going to make any difference to speak of. There will still be a number of holes to drill. I would just go with a complete '73-'87 front suspension. I prefer those over the earlier years.
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Re: Disc Brake Upgrade Reference Thread
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Re: Disc Brake Upgrade Reference Thread
from what I have read the 73-87 crossmember requires drilling even on a 63-67 so this means it bolts up different on that frame also. seems to me that the frame on any 60-67 should be the same. so a 63-67 crossmember should bolt straight on??? can anyone confirm?
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Re: Disc Brake Upgrade Reference Thread
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Re: Disc Brake Upgrade Reference Thread
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Re: Disc Brake Upgrade Reference Thread
ok that makes sense the write up I read just seemed like it would be a difficult task so I was looking for an alternative.
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Re: Disc Brake Upgrade Reference Thread
Ok so I'm working on a 64 3/4 ton and Im trying to get this thing ready for the disk brake swap with 88-98 parts. My question is whether ABS parts would be a problem. I've found plenty of parts trucks but they have ABS and I don't know if you can just not hook it up.
Next question is whether anyone has determinded whether the ball joints from the 88-98 trucks will fit the UPPER a arms of the 64. (I know the lowers fit as described in this thread.) I called Checker auto and they said they had upper joints for both my 64 and an 89 but that there were a couple options for the 64 and that I'd have to bring in my original joint for comparison. Since this is a daily driver I just can't take it apart to see. Thoughts? |
Re: Disc Brake Upgrade Reference Thread
The ABS being there isn't going to hurt anything. Just leave it unhooked. As for the upper balljoints, the only options I can think of is 1/2 ton versus 3/4 ton. The main differences in the upper balljoints are the taper that fits into the spindle. I'm pretty sure the '89 upper balljoint will bolt into the '64 arm.
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Re: Disc Brake Upgrade Reference Thread
Great info! Thanks all for taking the time to gather and post it. I'll now be hunting for later model 3/4 spindles w/t 8-lug rotors, calipers & master cyl & booster + the complete steering linkage. Thanks again!
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Re: Disc Brake Upgrade Reference Thread
hey guys thanks for this post it is very helpfull with my 66 build. but got a question. so i went to the local junk yard and pulled the front suspension from a 88 1/2 ton chevy truck got all the suspension except for the k-member. now if i rebuild that can i bolt that up to my 66. upper lower control arms spindle springs. steering linkage and all. i have read all the post on here and just wanted to see if i needed anything else for it.
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Re: Disc Brake Upgrade Reference Thread
The suspension from a '88 pickup will not bolt up to your '66. If you had gotten your parts from a '71-'87 pickup or '71-'92 Suburban, you could do as you are asking.
The complete pickup platform changed in '88, and is not interchangeable with earlier years. The only way you can use those parts on your '66 is to use your original upper control arm, a '63-'66 C20 lower control arm, and then install the '88 upper and lower balljoints, spindles, rotors, calipers, etc. This is the same as the 6 lug conversion described in this thread. Quote:
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Re: Disc Brake Upgrade Reference Thread
This maybe a dumb question but; (Mine is a 68), Why not just put a whole front end under the truck, one with dics brakes. If I remember correctly, the 71 or 72 with 4 wheel drive front ends had a 6 lug patten too? Tell me if this can be done?
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Re: Disc Brake Upgrade Reference Thread
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You can however remove the complete crossmember assembly with arms and spindles/brakes from a 71-87 1/2 ton 2wd truck to make it 5 lug with disc brakes. There are companies that make a 6 lug rotor to go on the factory spindle, that way you would keep 6 lug front. |
Re: Disc Brake Upgrade Reference Thread
Here's a question. The previous owner of my truck put a 3/4 8 lug rear end on now my C10. I found a 80's 3/4 2WD suburban, a may sound silly, but can I put the front spindles on my truck so I can have matching rims? Does someone have a step by step on how to replace a rear end. either way I think i'm going to have to spend some cash. I just think it my be easier to do the front than the rear.
Ed |
Re: Disc Brake Upgrade Reference Thread
If you want a 3/4 ton, then by all means go ahead and switch the front. But you will at a minimum have to change the lower control arm as well as the spindles, rotors, calipers, etc. IMO if you don't necessarily want a 3/4 ton, just change the rear end, it's a lot simpler. What year of truck do you have? If you want discs on the front, just get a 1/2 ton '71-'87 front suspension for the front. Then you could get away with just changing the balljoints, spindles, rotors, calipers, etc. Regardless whether you go to 3/4 ton or 1/2 ton front discs, you will need to upgrade the brake master to a dual reservior unit.
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Ed |
Re: Disc Brake Upgrade Reference Thread
Yes if you were to use a '73-'87 rear end you would have to weld on mounts for the trailing arms, and a mount for the panhard bar. I don't know off the top of my head what to set the pinion angle at. I would suggest checking the one you currently have and just duplicating that unless you plan on a big drop in your rear suspension. A '71-'72 rear end would be a direct bolt in but these can be hard to find.
It just kills me when I read about how much some of you guys in other parts of the country are having to pay for parts. Around here you could pick up a complete '73-'87 truck for $500 or less depending on condition and whether it's complete/ running or not. But it's that supply and demand thing...... Quote:
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Re: Disc Brake Upgrade Reference Thread
thanks for the info. Ya'll are great. The 3/4 ton rear end is working so I'm not in a rush to change it. I'll keep looking. I found a nice kit for the rear end conversion kit.
http://www.classicperform.com/Store/...k/6072DRCK.htm |
Re: Disc Brake Upgrade Reference Thread
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Thanks! Chris |
Re: Disc Brake Upgrade Reference Thread
That is correct the '71-'87 C10's were not available from the factory with 6 lugs. If you want 6 lugs and disc brakes, you can either do the conversion with the '88-'98 OEM parts, or you can buy aftermarket 6 lug rotors for the '71-'87 spindles from suppliers such as CPP, ECE, etc.
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Re: Disc Brake Upgrade Reference Thread
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Re: Disc Brake Upgrade Reference Thread
I agree with The Captain- I used 6 lug CPP rotors and calipers on 71 spindles and had no problems.
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Re: Disc Brake Upgrade Reference Thread
I am looking at this post as a reference for a project I am working on to find some donor parts. The project is a 1963 SWB Stepside C10. I recently ran across a guy parting out a 1986 2wd Suburban and I think there are some parts on it I can use to convert to disc brakes up front as well as power steering. What can I use off of this vehicle?
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Re: Disc Brake Upgrade Reference Thread
You can also use the rear differential so you have 5 lug in the rear as well as the front. However this will require some cutting and welding. If this Suburban happens to have an engine and transmission, that can be used also.
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Re: Disc Brake Upgrade Reference Thread
I read somewhere that you can use the tranny crossmember from the suburban if you plan to do a 700R4 swap.
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Re: Disc Brake Upgrade Reference Thread
Sorry to keep on beating this thing to death, but I'm still not clear on this one point. Let's say you already have 5 lug 1-1/4" discs (73-87 type). Will the 88-98 6 lug rotors work on the existing spindles, or do you still have to do the spindle swap? When I tried a parts lookup, it appears that the bearings are the same, A3 and A5, but is that enough to insure that the rotors will swap?
Ray |
Re: Disc Brake Upgrade Reference Thread
88 - 98 rotors will NOT fit on the 73 - 87 spindles. You need to order 6 lug rotors from CCP or whom ever. It's the easist way to stick with 6 lugs.
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Re: Disc Brake Upgrade Reference Thread
Yes the '88-'98 6 lug rotors do use the same bearings, and they do technically fit the '71-'87 spindles, but they don't line up with the calipers. So yes if you want to use those rotors, you will have to use the '88-'98 1500 or LD 2500 spindles and related parts. This also requires you to change the LCA to a C20 LCA.
Otherwise, if you're going to use the '71-'87 spindles, you will have to buy the aftermarket 6 lug rotors as Russ65C10 stated. Quote:
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Re: Disc Brake Upgrade Reference Thread
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It doesn't have to be a '67-'87 LCA ? I have a rolling '63 C-20 Chassis that I am parting out. |
Re: Disc Brake Upgrade Reference Thread
Russ and Captain, thank you for clearing that up. It makes sense that if a factory part would fit, there wouldn't be any need for the aftermarket 6 lug rotors.
Ray |
Re: Disc Brake Upgrade Reference Thread
The '63-'70 C20 lower ball joints are the same part number. The '71-'87's are a different part number, but the ball joint hole in the LCA is the same size. The only issue with using a '63-'66 C20 LCA is the different shaft that they use. It is basically flat with holes for bolts to attack to the crossmember. So if you were to use the '63-'66 C20 LCA's on anything other than a '63-'66 C20 crossmember, the shafts would need to be changed to the '67-'86 C20 style.
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Re: Disc Brake Upgrade Reference Thread
wow, this is a lot of info. I am confused(which usually doesn't take a whole lot) I am wanting to put 8lug on my front end of my 1/2 ton 64gmc. I have a 91 8lug truck sitting here that I can use for parts. can I use anything off it?
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Re: Disc Brake Upgrade Reference Thread
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Or, does it have to be '67-'86 in order to bolt to my 63' c10 X-Member ? I think I would prefer to use newer style rubber bushing style arms anyway...keeping it 6-lug |
Re: Disc Brake Upgrade Reference Thread
so is it true that if you swap to disk brakes 6/5 lug that your organal wheels wont work any more?
if this is true why not just go to 5? thanks |
Re: Disc Brake Upgrade Reference Thread
Thonly way you could use those '91 8 lug parts is if it is the Square body style. The Suburbans, and Crewcabs, ans possibly a couple other models were still the Square body thru '91. If it is the '88 and up body style, the only thing you might be able to use would be the rear differential. I'm not sure on the width of the 8 lug rear differentials of those years. I know that the 5 lug differentials are too wide to use in the older trucks. One other thing that you could use from it if it is a newer style truck, is the brake booster, master and prop valve, with one of my booster brackets. That will bolt right up to your '64 GMC.
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I have not done it, but I'm thinking that the C10 shafts and bushings would fit the C20 LCA's. But yeah if it were me I would upgrade to the '73-'87 control arms with the rubber bushings. I would also recommend upgrading to the larger LCA shaft U-bolts used in the '73-'87's. Quote:
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Re: Disc Brake Upgrade Reference Thread
If you have original style 6 lug wheels, they won't work with disc brakes. Some guys have aftermarket or later model 6 lug wheels that are disc brake compatable, so switching to 6 lug discs will allow keeping your wheels. Plus you wouldn't have to change your rear differential, or change the axles in your existing one, if you went with 6 lug discs up front.
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Re: Disc Brake Upgrade Reference Thread
thanks capt
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Re: Disc Brake Upgrade Reference Thread
Wow, what a thread. This is a very helpful one. Have seen several comments that discs will not fit the original 6 lug steelies. A couple questions -
1. Can a spacer be used to make the original 6 lugs work with a disc set-up (i.e. I've not tried it yet - where does the interference actually occur between the caliper and the original 6 lug wheel? is it a wheel diameter thing or backspacing thing, etc) 2. Captain Fab, you mentioned aftermarket and later model 6 lugs would work. Which later model 6 lugs? (all 88-up 1500's?) and what company makes stock-appearing steel wheels that will fit discs? (I've looked at stockton and a few others, but seems their stock looking wheels are not quite stock looking - they are missing the air gaps in between the wheel center and rim, at least on some of the wheels I've seen. Seems later model 6 lugs (88-up) were 16 inch rims? So are you saying that aftermarket steel wheels would also need to be 16 inch to work? I've got 15 inch truck rallies also in addition to the stock steelies, and I'm pretty sure they will work - but I'm going to a bit of effort to just run steelies and poverty caps - looking for the simplest to keep that look yet eventually upgrade to front discs. Thanks a lot folks, great thread. |
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