3/4 ton 4wd front wheel hub help!

[freakshow108]

Ive been looking everywhere for more front wheel hubs for my 71 k20 and have come up empty. I know you guys can help. Im trying to convert my eaton ho72 rear to discs, and ive found the bracket and only need the hubs from 71 through 76 k20s. Can anyone please lead me in the right direction? All of my local wrecking yards are a no-go so im reduced to begging. Thanks for any help you can give. by the way i am converting because the patrs for the eaton and specificaly the 71 are becoming too hard to find and way to costly.

[Longhorn Man]

you tried the parts store?
I'll move this to the 4X4 section

[Blazer1970]

You are going to use Dana 44 front hubs on your H052 rear axle?? How is that going to work?

[freakshow108]

ruff stuff indusries makes a braket thet bolts straight to the HO72 axle and the front wheel hubs and rotors , and calipers(from a 71-76 3/4 ton 4wd) slide right on.

[freakshow108]

Originally Posted by Blazer1970

You are going to use Dana 44 front hubs on your H052 rear axle?? How is that going to work?

it wont. i was wrong. the front hubs will not fit on the rear. i just reused the rear hubs after i pulled my head out of my butt and used my common sense! all i did was press the front rotors onto the rear hub, they fit perfect with the brackets from ruff stuff industries, 60$ shipped!

[swamp rat]

>>>i just reused the rear hubs <<<

Thats good news! what about the disks, have a part number?? Do you think i can reuse my rear hubs on the HO52??

[freakshow108]

Originally Posted by swamp rat

>>>i just reused the rear hubs <<<

Thats good news! what about the disks, have a part number?? Do you think i can reuse my rear hubs on the HO52??

you should be able to. and the disc that are used on the front are what i used for the rear. you should be able to press the rear drums off of the hubs and then press on the new rotors.

[swamp rat]

Thanks! I definantly want to know how this turns out!

[TheWhiteElephant]

Originally Posted by freakshow108

you should be able to. and the disc that are used on the front are what i used for the rear. you should be able to press the rear drums off of the hubs and then press on the new rotors.

I was thinking of doing the same thing to my '73. Any other issues you've come across that are worth mentioning?

[msgross]

sounds easier just to go find a 14bolt...

[swamp rat]

Ever find the hubs yet? I was thinking about doing a conversion like this with my HO52, i have saved a link at home to a webpage for a conversion but i'm not in a position to do that just yet.

[freakshow108]

Originally Posted by msgross

sounds easier just to go find a 14bolt...

ruff stuff industries makes the brackets that will bolt up to the ho72 and take the same calipers as the front. all i did was press off the drums from the rear and then press on the , stock , front rotors to the rear hubs. so far every thing seems to lign up perfectly and i appear to have the brake line figured out except for the prop. vavle. but that will come later when i get the body put on.

[special-K]

I plan on doing the same thing.Not sure what parts it'll take,though.14-bolts don't have discs either and probably require the same parts to convert.If not I'm sure whatever works on a 14-bolt will work on the Corporate axles.the Corporates are just way cooler than 14-bolts,so when you're done you really have something.i bought hubs and calipers from Pep Boys for a '71 C/20 and am sure NAPA would have them.

[LostMy65]

I stumbled across that site a couple days ago:
http://www.ruffstuffspecialties.com/...roducts_id=289

I've noticed that DIY4X has updated theirs to say it will work with eaton also:
http://diy4x.com/cart/index.php?rout...&product_id=35

I am so glad to find someone doing this here in my favorite forum

How's the progress?

[72longbed]

I did a disk conversion on my HO72 about 6 or 7 years ago. The first conversion I did was to a 14 bolt FF that I had under there before I found the HO72. To illustrate how close these axles are, I was able to use the same caliper support brackets on the HO72 that I had on the 14 bolt FF. NO problem. I then took the HO72 hubs apart and pressed in new studs with 1976 K20 front rotors. I am also using 1976 K20 calipers on the back.

The truck has the same size rotors (12.5" ?) front and rear now. Works very well with a corvette dual disk master cylinder and prop valve from Classic Industries.

I have a pair of Eldorado calipers, pads, levers, springs, etc. with the parking brake built in if anybody is interested in them. They are in excellent shape, just one needs a new bleeder valve installed.

The HO72 and the 14 bolt FF are very similar out there at the 'business end'.

Good building!!

72longbed

[fayettecopa]

Might be interested in the eldorado stuff.
My 14 year is getting ready to start on a 68 K20.
Would be nice to have disk brakes.
Still scratching my head about the closed knuckle dana 44 drum brake front axle.
Would be nice to get disks up there - guess I'll have to find a front axle from the 70s.

[72longbed]

I would if I were you. There's no comparison; drums vs. disks. I put an 8 lug (large spindle) Dana 44 up front, totally rebuilt, and it has been a great axle. You shouldn't have any trouble finding a Dana 44 for your project. I would look for a 71 on up though.

72longbed

[freakshow108]

if you dont mind driving out to washington state, you can have the dana 44 laying in my garage.lol

[freakshow108]

Originally Posted by 72longbed

I did a disk conversion on my HO72 about 6 or 7 years ago. The first conversion I did was to a 14 bolt FF that I had under there before I found the HO72. To illustrate how close these axles are, I was able to use the same caliper support brackets on the HO72 that I had on the 14 bolt FF. NO problem. I then took the HO72 hubs apart and pressed in new studs with 1976 K20 front rotors. I am also using 1976 K20 calipers on the back.

The truck has the same size rotors (12.5" ?) front and rear now. Works very well with a corvette dual disk master cylinder and prop valve from Classic Industries.

I have a pair of Eldorado calipers, pads, levers, springs, etc. with the parking brake built in if anybody is interested in them. They are in excellent shape, just one needs a new bleeder valve installed.

The HO72 and the 14 bolt FF are very similar out there at the 'business end'.

Good building!!

72longbed

can you send me a link to classic ind. master cylinder?

[haydenho]

I have the same rear axle in my 72 k20, if you go to hillbillywizard.com he has a complete rear disc brake conversion kit, you can still use your original rear hubs, it looks like you already have the caliper bracket so you just have to request the kit without the brackets

[obijuan]

For what it's worth, you don't use Dana 44 hubs for a rear disc conversion.

[swamp rat]

Originally Posted by obijuan

For what it's worth, you don't use Dana 44 hubs for a rear disc conversion.

Yea, Freakshow figured that out and i think mentioned it in his build thread, naturally on an Eaton you use the Eaton hubs. He has long since finished the truck for his son at break neck speed, i have passed the truck on the road a number of times.

[kwmech]

Originally Posted by swamp rat

He has long since finished the truck for his son at break neck speed, i have passed the truck on the road a number of times.

I would hope so after over 4 years