Complete 71-72 brake kit, with disc conversion?

[ken4444]

Does anyone sell a complete kit of brake parts for a 71 or 72 C10 that includes everything (or almost everything) from rotors to booster and also converts the rear drums to disc?

I can piece together everything I need for about $1150 but that doesn't include a rear drum conversion. I'd like to think I can get a complete kit, with conversion, for around that price...

[onebigjohn]

Originally Posted by ken4444

Does anyone sell a complete kit of brake parts for a 71 or 72 C10 that includes everything (or almost everything) from rotors to booster and also converts the rear drums to disc?

I can piece together everything I need for about $1150 but that doesn't include a rear drum conversion. I'd like to think I can get a complete kit, with conversion, for around that price...

This place has a lot if they don't I don't know who would!
http://www.abspowerbrake.com/index.html

[ken4444]

Originally Posted by onebigjohn

This place has a lot if they don't I don't know who would!
http://www.abspowerbrake.com/index.html

Good call! I talked to them. Their kit #457 is about 2 grand. It doesn't include steel brake lines though. Otherwise it seems pretty complete. It requires 17" wheels or larger.

[davepl]

To each their own, but I strongly recommend sticking to drums in the back. There's no practical benefit to switching and it can introduce a number of heartaches unless you get top quality parts.

If doing rears, don't skim - go Brembo or Wilwood or similar. If going second tier, stick to the fronts. That was my experience anyway.

[ken4444]

Originally Posted by davepl

To each their own, but I strongly recommend sticking to drums in the back. There's no practical benefit to switching and it can introduce a number of heartaches unless you get top quality parts.

If doing rears, don't skim - go Brembo or Wilwood or similar. If going second tier, stick to the fronts. That was my experience anyway.

Good advice. I figured that rear drums are still used today on some vehicles so they must have some value. My '92 C1500 with rear drums never had any braking problems. When I get down to the final dollar numbers, rear discs may be something I'll have to do without.

[davepl]

If you have an open wheel design, they certainly look nicer. But if you have a closed wheel where you can't see the brakes, the advantages are limited for a truck like ours, except maybe mountain towing where fade could be an issue.

Otherwise you're not likely blasting out of Turn 2 at Laguna Seca in a C20... :-)

[Andy4639]

I got to ask why?

Why do you need a complete front and rear disc kit for a 71-72 truck? They came factory with front disc brakes. In fact they are very good brakes to so why both are was it you want a bigger set of caliper in front?


The rear disc on my 71 have not proven to be any better than the factory drums in any kind of weather. I bought the

[ken4444]

Originally Posted by Andy4639

I got to ask why?

When I rebuild a C10 from the ground up, I don't want to jack with the break system more than once for the first few years. I intend to replace every part of the brake system during the rebuild. If using rear discs is an option, then that effects the master cylinder and the proportioning valve. I have to consider the system as a whole. Since I would be starting with a clean slate then I want to consider what all my options are. True, I probably don't need, or want the expense of ultra premium brand parts. I probably don't really need rear discs either. However that's why I am researching this all beforehand: knowledge.

As always, thanks everyone for your input.

[custom10nut]

Andy has a good point. Up until just recent years, most vehicles had drums on the back.
I could justify putting discs front and back if I was towing on hills or around town, on a daily basis, but for an occasional driver? That's a good chunk of money.
The ABS Catalog has a lot of good kits, but I wish they would show a break down of what comes in the kits, and maybe a price list would be nice.

[ken4444]

A related concern here, and it's not just brakes, is the issue of getting parts for a given system after a few years. Say I need new pads or a replacement rear caliper after a few years and the company is out of business. Where do I get parts? What parts are workable and not? That may be one benefit of sticking with original-like parts.

[elkniks]

I installed a CPP Big Brake Kit last year. Came with everything except the booster. It uses GM truck front calipers and Lincoln rear calipers including parking brake cables. But like you mentioned, I am not sure about the rotors. As far as I know now I would have to buy them from CPP. The stock pads are junk and make all kinds of dust also. I am running a big cam and only have about 11 in. of vacuum and they work great. I would definitely buy again. In addition, as stated above, the factory brakes worked good also, I mainly installed the kit as an affordable way to have decent looking brakes behind 20" wheels.

[ryanv70c10]

If I were going to do 4 wheel disc, I would look into 98-02 F body brakes. I put them on my 63 Nova and even with a 70 vette manual disc MC it would put you though the windshield.

Effortless and balanced braking however you need 16-17" wheels minimum. I was able to fit them under 16" rally wheels with some modification.

My 70 C10 already had disc on the front and it does stop pretty good so it's staying that way for now.