Will 73-87 3/4t disc brake spindles fit a 68? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

thecatseye66 · 05-16-2005, 06:04 PM

I posted a thread this past weekend to see if anyone knew what the options were for putting my front drum brakes out to pasture but got no answers.

If anyone has pulled off a swap to front disc brakes on a C-20 let me know how you did it so I can piece it together.

cadiac · 05-16-2005, 06:11 PM

I've been told more than once that the spinles from a 71-72 will swap right into an earlier truck. How far back? Dunno.-? I bought the spindles/rotors and calipers from a 71 for my 69. They have sat in the shed, -meanwhile I've got another 71 frontend and a complete 72 frame. Now stuff to do a couple extra swaps, and a complete drum frontend. I'm switching to 72 booster/master cylinder. Don't know anything else for now.

thecatseye66 · 05-16-2005, 07:24 PM

ttt

69 longhorn · 05-16-2005, 07:49 PM

Use the ball joints & all the steering linkage from the 73-up truck, & its a bolt in. you may need to grind the steer stops on the spindles to get the turning radius straightened up, if you are using the 68 lower arms(no big issue tho)....

L

thecatseye66 · 05-20-2005, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 69 longhorn

Use the ball joints & all the steering linkage from the 73-up truck, & its a bolt in. you may need to grind the steer stops on the spindles to get the turning radius straightened up, if you are using the 68 lower arms(no big issue tho)....

L

I just bought the complete front suspension and brake system-- a-arms to brake booster with all steering linkage and brake lines out of an '83 for 125 bucks. I have to go pull it all out in the morning.

You said I might need to grind the steer stops if I use the 68 lower arms: Do you know if I can I just use the lower arm -- do a complete swap of both a-arms and eveerything else from the 83? Anybody?

**Don Brace** · 05-20-2005, 03:13 PM

thecatseye66
I used the drum brake master cylinder. It seems to work okay. The flex lines I used were from the 96 I think.

69 longhorn · 05-20-2005, 03:15 PM

You can swap the lower arms, & the spindles,steering linkage,brakes......or if you have the complete cradle assy, you can swap it in. You will have to egg a couple bolt holes on the frame to fit it (no biggie tho).

L

67-Cowboy · 05-18-2005, 07:29 PM

I finally got the info you and I both have been looking for, these HIGH DOLLAR after market guys are selling the($800.00) kit for disk brakes and it's OEM parts ! What a bunch of snakes, just go to the recking yard and buy 73-87 stuff and save a ton of money !!!

**Don Brace** · 05-18-2005, 09:09 PM

My 69 3/4 has the complete suspension from a 96 3/4 van, all but the cross member and the sway bar as they were too wide. I took the A arms and the spindles off the 96 as a unit and bolted them onto the 69. I used the 69 springs. It took my son and I about six hours to make the swap.

thecatseye66 · 05-19-2005, 02:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Brace

My 69 3/4 has the complete suspension from a 96 3/4 van, all but the cross member and the sway bar as they were too wide. I took the A arms and the spindles off the 96 as a unit and bolted them onto the 69. I used the 69 springs. It took my son and I about six hours to make the swap.

You aren't kidding?
What steering linkage did you use? 69 or 96? Tie rod end issues?
96 master-cylinder or old disc/drum w/booster on truck?
This is supercool information Don. Thanks tons.
This board ROCKS

**Don Brace** · 05-19-2005, 08:31 AM

The tie rods from the 96 were too long to use on the 69. The 69 already had a power brake unit so I used that one. Basically what we did was unbolt the 96 suspension and the 69 suspension at the cross shafts and put the 96 suspension on the 69. Works great.

hgs_notes · 05-19-2005, 08:42 AM

Just curious, how did the wheel alignment work out? Which specs did they use?

FYI, I have 73 calipers on my stock 71 rotors. The brake line connection to the caliper was slightly different, otherwise it's identical.

HG

chevy283 · 05-19-2005, 09:24 AM

i use a 91 sub on my 65 I had no tie rod end issues i did swap the idler arm so that i didn't have to drill for that the crossmember has 4 hole the dont linup so i'll have to drill. I use the brake booster and brake lins it went right in. the cool part it was free.

05-16-2005, 06:04 PM	#1
thecatseye66 '68 C-20 396 CST CC Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 454	Will 73-87 3/4t disc brake spindles fit a 68? I posted a thread this past weekend to see if anyone knew what the options were for putting my front drum brakes out to pasture but got no answers. If anyone has pulled off a swap to front disc brakes on a C-20 let me know how you did it so I can piece it together.

05-16-2005, 07:49 PM	#4
69 longhorn Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: rock island,il,usa Posts: 5,382	Use the ball joints & all the steering linkage from the 73-up truck, & its a bolt in. you may need to grind the steer stops on the spindles to get the turning radius straightened up, if you are using the 68 lower arms(no big issue tho).... L __________________ http://community.webshots.com/user/hotrodhorn

05-20-2005, 03:13 PM	#6
Don Brace Active Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Clarks Grove MN Posts: 487	thecatseye66 I used the drum brake master cylinder. It seems to work okay. The flex lines I used were from the 96 I think. __________________ Don Brace 55 Nomad 56 Nomad 58 Impalla Coupe 58 Bel-Aire 4D HT 61 Impala CVRT 409 4 SP 2- 71 Longhorns Always looking for old toy trains, Juke boxes Pin ball and game machines.

05-20-2005, 03:15 PM	#7
69 longhorn Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: rock island,il,usa Posts: 5,382	You can swap the lower arms, & the spindles,steering linkage,brakes......or if you have the complete cradle assy, you can swap it in. You will have to egg a couple bolt holes on the frame to fit it (no biggie tho). L __________________ http://community.webshots.com/user/hotrodhorn

05-18-2005, 09:09 PM	#9
Don Brace Active Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Clarks Grove MN Posts: 487	My 69 3/4 has the complete suspension from a 96 3/4 van, all but the cross member and the sway bar as they were too wide. I took the A arms and the spindles off the 96 as a unit and bolted them onto the 69. I used the 69 springs. It took my son and I about six hours to make the swap. __________________ Don Brace 55 Nomad 56 Nomad 58 Impalla Coupe 58 Bel-Aire 4D HT 61 Impala CVRT 409 4 SP 2- 71 Longhorns Always looking for old toy trains, Juke boxes Pin ball and game machines.

05-16-2005, 06:11 PM	#2
cadiac Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Wichita, Kansas 67212 Posts: 257	I've been told more than once that the spinles from a 71-72 will swap right into an earlier truck. How far back? Dunno.-? I bought the spindles/rotors and calipers from a 71 for my 69. They have sat in the shed, -meanwhile I've got another 71 frontend and a complete 72 frame. Now stuff to do a couple extra swaps, and a complete drum frontend. I'm switching to 72 booster/master cylinder. Don't know anything else for now.

05-16-2005, 07:24 PM	#3
thecatseye66 '68 C-20 396 CST CC Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 454	ttt

05-18-2005, 07:29 PM	#8
67-Cowboy Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Location: Salem, Oregon U. S. of A. Posts: 69	I finally got the info you and I both have been looking for, these HIGH DOLLAR after market guys are selling the($800.00) kit for disk brakes and it's OEM parts ! What a bunch of snakes, just go to the recking yard and buy 73-87 stuff and save a ton of money !!!

05-19-2005, 08:31 AM	#11
Don Brace Active Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Clarks Grove MN Posts: 487	The tie rods from the 96 were too long to use on the 69. The 69 already had a power brake unit so I used that one. Basically what we did was unbolt the 96 suspension and the 69 suspension at the cross shafts and put the 96 suspension on the 69. Works great. __________________ Don Brace 55 Nomad 56 Nomad 58 Impalla Coupe 58 Bel-Aire 4D HT 61 Impala CVRT 409 4 SP 2- 71 Longhorns Always looking for old toy trains, Juke boxes Pin ball and game machines.

05-19-2005, 08:42 AM	#12
hgs_notes GEARHEAD Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: MN Posts: 6,126	Just curious, how did the wheel alignment work out? Which specs did they use? FYI, I have 73 calipers on my stock 71 rotors. The brake line connection to the caliper was slightly different, otherwise it's identical. HG __________________ If no one knows what you're doing, they can't tell you you're doing it wrong HG's Dream Car Build - Shelby Cobra Kit Build your own adjustable track bar 71 Long Fleet C/10 72 Jimmy 4x4 (Junkyard Jimmy) HG's Plow Truck '78 K35 Dually Bigass Farm Truck HG's thread of miscellaneous stuff

05-19-2005, 09:24 AM	#13
chevy283 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: wilson oklahoma Posts: 367	i use a 91 sub on my 65 I had no tie rod end issues i did swap the idler arm so that i didn't have to drill for that the crossmember has 4 hole the dont linup so i'll have to drill. I use the brake booster and brake lins it went right in. the cool part it was free. Last edited by chevy283; 05-19-2005 at 09:25 AM.



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