6 lug to 5 lug front drums - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

jerryonly · 06-14-2009, 12:45 PM

hi just wondering if anyone knows of a 5 lug front drum that would fit my 70 pickup which currently has the stock 6 lug drums

ChevLoRay · 06-14-2009, 01:04 PM

Why? Is it so you can run a 5-lug wheel? When GM changed over to a 5-lug pattern on these trucks in '71, they also adopted disc brakes. If you are dead set on keeping a drum brake system up front AND you want to or already have some 5-lug wheels you want to use, then invest in a pair of quality billet adapters that will let you mount those wheels on your truck. But, quality is the key word. There are adapters that you might find that will turn your truck into an accident waiting on a place to occur, at a time that will be "inopportune", meaning bad place, bad time, bad outcome.

Why do you not want disc brakes? Find a '71-2 and pirate the parts you need to do the conversion. You'll still need to do something about the rear end. But, luck is on your side. As I understand it, the '71-2 rear axles are the same length as your truck, if it still has the original '70 rear axle under it. The axles should swap w/o any issues. Then, you can run 5-lug all the way around and have a better brake system in front.

BAGNDRAGIT · 06-14-2009, 01:41 PM

go disc, you wont regret it...

jerryonly · 06-14-2009, 08:17 PM

yeah i thought about doing the front disc conversion from a 71 or 72 but i kinda wanted to keep the non power brakes and i was told that non power disc is pretty damn stiff, if anyone knows of a front drum that would fit with the 5 bolt pattern i would love to know about it Thanks all

ChevLoRay · 06-14-2009, 08:54 PM

Trial and error method. The only vehicles that I would think that might be usable would be full-size GM cars (Cadillac/Buick/Olds) from the mid-60's just prior to their adoption of disc brakes (68). If you did some research as to the wheel bearings (compare the car to your truck) and found them to be the same (part numbers, that is) you'd be one step closer. If the part numbers are the same, you'd at least be able to go ahead and locate a donor vehicle. At that point, you gotta compare the diameter of the drums and the width of the shoes. If they (shoe width and drum diameter) were not the same as your truck, then you'd need to look at the compatibility of swapping backing plates between your truck and the donor vehicle. Even at that, the length of the axle stubs may be an issue. The truck, or the car, may have a longer stub. If the stub lengths aren't the same, then the donor drums won't ever work.

In my opinion, a disc brake swap would be easier but it's your truck and your time.

Oh, one more thing.....you could have your drums and axle flanges re-drilled to mount the wheels you want to run. Contact a machine shop for this option.

Longhorn Man · 06-14-2009, 09:03 PM

manual disks are no worse than manual drums.
Well, except they stop better.

Longhorn Man · 06-14-2009, 09:59 PM

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=348256
lets not double post... you posted the same thing yesterday

06-14-2009, 12:45 PM	#1
jerryonly Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Delhi Ontario Posts: 4	6 lug to 5 lug front drums hi just wondering if anyone knows of a 5 lug front drum that would fit my 70 pickup which currently has the stock 6 lug drums

06-14-2009, 01:04 PM	#2
ChevLoRay Old Skool Club Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Benton, AR "The Heart of Arkansas" Posts: 10,880	Re: 6 lug to 5 lug front drums Why? Is it so you can run a 5-lug wheel? When GM changed over to a 5-lug pattern on these trucks in '71, they also adopted disc brakes. If you are dead set on keeping a drum brake system up front AND you want to or already have some 5-lug wheels you want to use, then invest in a pair of quality billet adapters that will let you mount those wheels on your truck. But, quality is the key word. There are adapters that you might find that will turn your truck into an accident waiting on a place to occur, at a time that will be "inopportune", meaning bad place, bad time, bad outcome. Why do you not want disc brakes? Find a '71-2 and pirate the parts you need to do the conversion. You'll still need to do something about the rear end. But, luck is on your side. As I understand it, the '71-2 rear axles are the same length as your truck, if it still has the original '70 rear axle under it. The axles should swap w/o any issues. Then, you can run 5-lug all the way around and have a better brake system in front. __________________ Member Nr. 2770 '96 GMC Sportside; 4.3/SLT - Daily driven....constantly needs washed. '69 C-10 SWB; 350/TH400 - in limbo The older I get, the better I was.

06-14-2009, 01:41 PM	#3
BAGNDRAGIT Just Not Low Enough! Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 525	Re: 6 lug to 5 lug front drums go disc, you wont regret it... __________________ NEED ELECTRICAL HELP? ASK ME! 67-72 Full Wiring Diagrams Lots Of Info, TAKE A LOOK 1967 Chevy C-10 Shortbox Bagged 327 4spd Previous: 1971 Chevy C-10 Short Sep I6 Auto (Traded) 1973 Chevy C-20 THE REDNECK BATTLE TRUCK 2001 Chevy Silverado 2Dr 5.3L Shortbox. R.I.P. 1969 Volkswagen Bug This is my first meeting, I have a horsepower problem.

06-14-2009, 08:17 PM	#4
jerryonly Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Delhi Ontario Posts: 4	Re: 6 lug to 5 lug front drums yeah i thought about doing the front disc conversion from a 71 or 72 but i kinda wanted to keep the non power brakes and i was told that non power disc is pretty damn stiff, if anyone knows of a front drum that would fit with the 5 bolt pattern i would love to know about it Thanks all

06-14-2009, 08:54 PM	#5
ChevLoRay Old Skool Club Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Benton, AR "The Heart of Arkansas" Posts: 10,880	Re: 6 lug to 5 lug front drums Trial and error method. The only vehicles that I would think that might be usable would be full-size GM cars (Cadillac/Buick/Olds) from the mid-60's just prior to their adoption of disc brakes (68). If you did some research as to the wheel bearings (compare the car to your truck) and found them to be the same (part numbers, that is) you'd be one step closer. If the part numbers are the same, you'd at least be able to go ahead and locate a donor vehicle. At that point, you gotta compare the diameter of the drums and the width of the shoes. If they (shoe width and drum diameter) were not the same as your truck, then you'd need to look at the compatibility of swapping backing plates between your truck and the donor vehicle. Even at that, the length of the axle stubs may be an issue. The truck, or the car, may have a longer stub. If the stub lengths aren't the same, then the donor drums won't ever work. In my opinion, a disc brake swap would be easier but it's your truck and your time. Oh, one more thing.....you could have your drums and axle flanges re-drilled to mount the wheels you want to run. Contact a machine shop for this option. __________________ Member Nr. 2770 '96 GMC Sportside; 4.3/SLT - Daily driven....constantly needs washed. '69 C-10 SWB; 350/TH400 - in limbo The older I get, the better I was. Last edited by ChevLoRay; 06-14-2009 at 08:55 PM.

06-14-2009, 09:03 PM	#6
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Re: 6 lug to 5 lug front drums manual disks are no worse than manual drums. Well, except they stop better.

06-14-2009, 09:59 PM	#7
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Re: 6 lug to 5 lug front drums http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=348256 lets not double post... you posted the same thing yesterday



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