Factory six-lug discs ?

[Dan-K]

I recently purchased what I beleive to be a factory six-lug disc brake set up. They were on a 72 Cheyenne super. I have also heard this was an option on some GMC.s as well. What would have come from the factory with this set-up ? and what year?

[northerngmc]

Was it 4X4? Because a 2wd 72 1/2 ton should have 5 lug disk brakes.

[Dan-K]

It was two wheel drive. I really didnt believe him when I spoke to him on the phone but they are what they are. I thought they may have been old after-market but the calipers are G.M. marked.

[michael bustamante]

calipers might be gm, but the rotors are definatly going to be aftermarket is the rearend 6 lug also?

[BarryB]

First to the board, BUT
Trust me somebody else would have done it, If I didn't.

Now seriously if you can post some pics of what your working with, I'm sure somebody can elaborate what you have. BUT like mentioned before. All the 71 72 I have seen are 5 lug disc brake set-up on the 1/2 ton trucks. and 8 lugs for the 3/4 ton trucks.

[powell72]

Welcome neighbor, all 71 and up 2wd half ton trucks had 5-lug disc brakes, no exceptions, regardless if it's Chevy or GMC. It sounds like an aftermarket rotor.

[Longhorn Man]

bump

[ChevLoRay]

My ECE conversion from drums to discs is 6-lug. If I ever want to go to a 5-lug pattern, all I have to do is use the stock 5-lug rotors from GM or any other parts house. So, who's to say that someone didn't do the reverse and put some ECE (or other supplier) rotors on in place of the original 5-lug rotors?

[jorgensensc]

Originally Posted by ChevLoRay

My ECE conversion from drums to discs is 6-lug. If I ever want to go to a 5-lug pattern, all I have to do is use the stock 5-lug rotors from GM or any other parts house. So, who's to say that someone didn't do the reverse and put some ECE (or other supplier) rotors on in place of the original 5-lug rotors?

THey definitely could have. If they changed out the rear for some reason,maybe they needed a new one and found a 6 lug rear, or they wanted the narrower track width on the earlier rears, and then they change over to disc brakes via a kit, then maybe they decided to stick with the 6 lug stuff.

Also, wasn't there a 'how-to' on using 88+ chevy 6 lug stuff for a conversion on the front? I could have sworn I read that somewhere. Maybe the previous owner used that stuff, that would say GM on it too. Just some ideas.
Shawn

[special-K]

6-lug 2wd disc brakes aren`t factory.No pre-71 disc brakes/No post`70 6-lug.All 71/72s are 5-lug disc.All 67-70s are drum.
that`s the gospel.

[westofb]

I think I saw a thread on here where someone got the front suspension off of like a 88 or so 3/4 ton chevy 2 wheel drive and it was a 6 lug set up. I believe the 6 lug 3/4 ton was only available for a couple of years if I am remembering right.

[tdave00]

Originally Posted by westofb

I think I saw a thread on here where someone got the front suspension off of like a 88 or so 3/4 ton chevy 2 wheel drive and it was a 6 lug set up. I believe the 6 lug 3/4 ton was only available for a couple of years if I am remembering right.

Yep. You have to use a C-20 lower a arm to make the balljoint fit that spindle. I have it bookmarked somewhere. I'll try and find it.

Edit: Linky
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=353393

That's not the exact thread I was talking about but good information.

[chevy_mike]

I believe '88-'98 Light Duty 3/4 tons all had 6 lug, Heavy Duty 3/4 ton had 8 lug.

[special-K]

That`s a possibility...`88-up light C/20 parts.

[Hottrucks]

OK but the real ?? is how wide is it?? this maybe away to convert to disc and keep the skinny on things??

[texanidiot25]

It's dirt easy to swap on the 73-87 heavy-halfton spindles, and with aftermarket 6 lug disks. There were no factory 6-lug disk 2wd trucks until the 88-97 era.

But, I run aftermarket 6 lug disks on 73-87 heavy halftone spindles/calipers.

[Longhorn Man]

however, back to the original poste's question, if your truck is a 2 wheel drive 1/2 ton truck, there is no way it has original 6 lug disks. GM didn't start that on half tons till 1999.

[Hottrucks]

hey long horn has anyone tried to fit that spindle on to our old stuff..what kind of results if they did make it work??

[Longhorn Man]

no idea what so ever. I have no interest in 6 lug discs, so i never paid any attention.

[special-K]

It`s most practicle to just go ahead and buy the aftermarket discs and use knuckles that will bolt in,such as 71/72s.If you aren`t lowering you can buy someone`s cast-offs from their swap or,if you are lowering,buy the bolt-on kit.

[Hottrucks]

being bagged and cupped I really can't go to dropped spindles I'm about as low as I can go unless I just want to have alower ride height but thats not what I'm after ...I just want to up grade to better brakes...I may just add power and run it

[special-K]

I`d get someone who installed drop spindle`s original 71/72 spindle for very cheap to free,used 71/72 backing plates,rebuilt 71/72 calipers,new hoses,and aftermarket 6-lug discs.