Cheap brake upgrades for 71 C10 front brakes?
 

So I've had this truck a few weeks now and the brakes have sucked for a while. Well, blew a tire over the weekend and when I took the tire off the brake rotor has a huge groove cut through the middle of it. It is REALLY bad. :lol:

So I ordered some 17" wheels and the stock brakes are going to look dumb inside there.

What kind of cheap brake upgrades are there for this thing? I know I can make my own brackets and find a way to mount some later model 2wd Chevy truck parts in there, but would be nice if someone already has that stuff to buy.

Re: Cheap brake upgrades for 71 C10 front brakes?
 

The 71-72 rotors had a groove in the center of them from the factory.
Look at this thread.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s....php?p=1514210

Re: Cheap brake upgrades for 71 C10 front brakes?
 

Learn something new every day!

Brakes still suck though. Maybe now that I know something isn't grinding I'll go ahead and fab my own brakes. :)

Re: Cheap brake upgrades for 71 C10 front brakes?
 

Factory 11.85" rotors with big piston caliper are pretty good brakes as is. I think you just need to get yours in proper working order to realize this. 11.85"-often called 12" are good size and will look fine behind 17" wheels.

Re: Cheap brake upgrades for 71 C10 front brakes?
 

The brakes on my 71 stop very well and they are stock setup. You might just need new parts.

Re: Cheap brake upgrades for 71 C10 front brakes?
 

Yeah, I had manual 67 stock brakes on mine and when I switched to discs from a 71 it was a night and day difference, just good pads and make sure there isn't any air in the system, might have to possibly adjust your brake peddle to take some slop off if it tends to be a bit sloppy.

Re: Cheap brake upgrades for 71 C10 front brakes?
 

Didn't realize the brakes were that big, just assumed they were little old GM brakes. I wasn't paying much attention to the brakes, was just assuming a lot about it. :lol:

Once I get to working on it this week I'll probably go ahead and put new pads/rotors/calipers on it and change out the brake fluid. The crap is 43 years old, can't hurt to replace it all.

Re: Cheap brake upgrades for 71 C10 front brakes?
 

Did you change the master cylinder to disc/drum and the proportioning valve to match. Disc brakes require more fluid and pressure to actuate the calipers.

Re: Cheap brake upgrades for 71 C10 front brakes?
 

You have good quality brakes, and everything is way cheap new. I remember replacing a caliper because a box of bleeders cost more. Make sure everything is clean, lubricated, adjusted properly and bled.

Re: Cheap brake upgrades for 71 C10 front brakes?
 

I would inspect the rear brakes. My stopping power drastically improved after reworking them. I had a bad wheel cylinder and didn't know it until I pulled the drum off.

Re: Cheap brake upgrades for 71 C10 front brakes?
 

It has factory front discs, the truck is all stock.

Re: Cheap brake upgrades for 71 C10 front brakes?
 

I'm going to check them too, but the plan is to convert to rear discs.

Re: Cheap brake upgrades for 71 C10 front brakes?
 

dupe post

Re: Cheap brake upgrades for 71 C10 front brakes?
 

check out captainfab for the rear
i snagged the ImpalaSs rear kit
i just need to get the rear disc calipers and rotors from an impala and plum the lines
board vendor here

Re: Cheap brake upgrades for 71 C10 front brakes?
 

Defiantly replace your rubber brake hoses , 2 up front , one in the rear , they will be a problem if original .

Re: Cheap brake upgrades for 71 C10 front brakes?
 

I missed the year when I read the subject and saw brake upgrade I just assumed it was drums to discs.
Changing the brake hoses is definitely a plus. Did you get a good flow on bleeding?

Re: Cheap brake upgrades for 71 C10 front brakes?
 

Brakes gradually gain "suck" over time. The biggest maintenance items I have seen on older vehicles are flexible hoses, bad brake fluid and poorly adjusted drum brakes. It's amazing how big an improvement you can get with new fluid and rubber lines on these old trucks.

Re: Cheap brake upgrades for 71 C10 front brakes?
 

It's a GM thing. My '70 ram air GTO still had the original rotors when I bought it and they also had the so called cooling groove.