Just how bad are the brakes of 67-70's c10?

[davidh]

Okay, in stock form when these trucks were new how bad were the brakes? I've had someone who restores these trucks say they weren't. He went on and told me he puts on a 68' camaro power brake booster on a frame off restored 1/2 tons when putting them back together. I know these trucks are old now but were the brakes decent when they were new or are they now when totally redone?

I know today the fact to consider is even if your brakes are decent and if someone in a newer car infront of you can stop in half the distance and they slow down suddenly your chance or rear ending them is bad. That and everyone drives 80mph with coffee in one hand and the phone in the other.

One of my older trucks is definitely getting 71' discs and the other 67 I plan on using to work around with, haul tree limbs, the occasional one axle utility trailer so forth. I thought of redoing all the drums on it. It will also be spending its time in a small town not running down the interstate with a camper and boat behind it. Any insight...

[Russell]

Well worth the cost of switching to power disks up front with power drums out back!

Big time braking improvement!

[QKENUF4U]

i found out how well the front disc work on my 71 the other day. had to do a sudden stop, down went the front end and up came the rear, smoked the back tires but stopped with lots of room. the guys behind me where prob. freaked out with the tire smoke. lol

[Frizzle Fry]

I put power disc/drum in my Suburban, all stock '72 components. It's not a light rig (~6000 lbs) and it scrubs speed REALLY well. I had a drum/drum non-power set-up before and it's like driving a different vehicle. I'd like to do rear discs too, but the braking already feels like it's as good as my 2001 Tahoe (minus ABS).

[HeavyD]

I still would recommend changing over. This stuff is not hard to find, there are wrecked 71 and 72's everywhere, and if that doesn't pan out discs up to 87 can be swapped on. The drums will work fine for you most likely, but discs will work better, and if the drums need redoing anyway, might at least consider swapping over..

[davidh]

Someone once told me if I use the suspension from 73 up the turning radius won't be as tight. True? Do I change out A-arms and spindles with the 73 up? Or do I need the whole front cross member?

[HeavyD]

My 70 GMC has 1975 a-arms, original crossmember is used. You can also use the whole 73 and newer crossmember, but a hole or 2 has to be ovaled out IIRC. I would just use the a-arms, or find a 71-72 setup.

[Longhorn Man]

I always joked aroiund that my old 1/2 ton had delayers, not brakes, (4 wheel drum, non power assist) however, in all reality, even with my higher rate of speed compaired to the 'normal' drivers, i never had a problem.
The whole "drums are outdated" thing is blown a little out of proportion. Yes, discs are better, but just becouse you have drums doesn't mean you're gonna rear end the first person you see when there brake lights come on.

[truckdude239]

well i have front disc andrear drums no power if keep adjusted right they stop like a dream i like no power brakes because i helps keeping me from warping my rotors lol but i am happy with the brakes on my 71

[dennislbrooks]

The first change I would make ( and made) on any 60-70 C10 would be the to front disc brakes -- then power brakes. Newer model drivers do not obey the car length for every 10 mph anymore and take your cushion away from you very quickly. You can use spindles with the 65-70 a-arms any where from 71-91 . You need to use the matching balljoints and if you stay with the 65-70 steering link -- overcome the outer tie rod difference. If you are drag racing and want to save front end weight -- use LD spindles -- 1" rotors - these have the A6 inner bearing.

[Palf70Step]

When my 70 was on the road, it work just fine. Manual 4wheel drums. The big key is keeping them adjusted. Some disc systems are better (I do not put the 88-98 GM truck brakes in this category), but if you know your vehicle you'll have no problem living with 4 wheel drums. I definitely recommend adding the power booster. To me that was a HUGE improvement. Discs will be nice, but I have not done the change to discs mainly because I want to retain the 6 bolt wheels (and am tooo cheap to buy the aftermarket conversion). With the 73-87 (or 71-72) parts, it is a very easy upgrade and if you have the parts you will definitely seem an improvement. The advantaged of using the 73-87 frontend is the replacement parts are much cheaper.

[76bonanza]

If you use a dual diafram booster like off a 3/4 or 1 ton the drums are fine I can bald my tires stopping with 4 drums.

[ChevLoRay]

This is the first modification that I made to my truck. It already had power brakes, but hard applications would find the right rear locking up. Since making the conversion, and having done nothing (yet) to the rears, no more lock up.

GM felt it was time to make a change, but that doesn't mean that all of their ideas are timely. However, this one was. My '60 TR-3 had 'em. My '65 Mustang GT had them. That's all I needed to know.

[special-K]

These disc brake were ahead of their time,or at least ahead of the competition.They are just as good as anything made since.Disc brakes are know for stopping better than drums to a degree.But,mostly,the advantages are EZ servicing and NO adjusting.As with many advancements in automotive design,the key factor is to design around the idiot at the wheel(sorry to be so blunt).He/she/it wants to hop in,turn the key,and go.Never giving a thought to the task at hand or what makes it work or why it stays on the road.
Drum brakes worked fine before discs came on the scene.I had a`63 Riviera with a big ol`Nailhead 425 dual quad up front and found myself at 100mph more times than I care to mention(well,let`s get together and have a beer sometime),anyway,those binders never let me down.Next time you`re at a truck stop,go around and look up under all those bad boys and see what`s stopping them.Just watch your rear.You may be mistaken for a gay Lot Lizzard.lol

[1-PU70]

Well I have been working on these truckes since they were new. Ya that meens Im an old guy. But when they were new the only thing that was shall we say unsafe was when it rained. When you would stop you never knew whitch way the truck would pull, left or right. In dry weather you couldnt tell the differance between drums and discs.

[Hook'em]

Night and day. Just converted from regular drums to power discs. I nearly through myself thru the windshield the first time I stopped fast. With the drums, I had to plan about a block ahead of time if I wanted to stop.

[weasel29gm]

Added a power booster on drums and keepin' 6-lugs. Like Andy said discs is good but drums work good also. Theres nothin' wrong with OEM stuff. Drums, steel lines, rubber bushin' etc. All this high dollar stuff is that " high $$$ " OEM when replaced is just as good.

[8bolt]

1-pu70 you bring back some old memoirs I remember my first car a 62 chevy two door hardtop the first time Iwent through a big deep mudpuddel wet brakes were like no brakes.

[chevymad]

Power drums work fine for an empty truck. At least for the first few stops. If you build up any heat in them though you're in trouble. Fill the bed full of firewood or hook up a trailer and it's dangerous. Had to take a detour one time towing an empty 24' trailer. By the time I reached the bottom of the hill with my power drums, I had both feet on the pedal and was pushing the seat through the back of the cab. Still rolled through the stop sign. Another time in a different truck(68 gmc) I had a load of firewood in the back. Slight downhill grade, both feet on the brake pedal and I missed my turn off.. by a 1/4 mile! Definately not a safe feeling. That truck was even a 4spd and I was gearing down. Both trucks had new brakes/drums/cylinders at all 4 corners. First thing I do to a project. My 70 now has a 6 lug conversion. Best thing ever. Only one thing I'd like to remind people about converting to disc, this will widen the track of your front end. I'd just gotten a new set of 15x10s with 4" back spacing on all 4 corners. With the drums they fit perfectly. Flush with the fenders front and back. Never even thought about how that would change with discs. Now with the discs the front wheels stick out of the fenders an inch on each side. It's enough that I can see it throwing water up when it rains. Should've had more backspacing to make these fit right.

[krue]

Upgrade to power brakes first (just cuz it's cheap and easy). Then when you wanna stop better, do the disc upgrade (that's what I did anyways).

[Longhorn Man]

With the brakes so terribly dangerouse, it's a wonder anyone over 40 is still alive.
If you are getting a 70 or older truck, drive it a bit and see if YOU can control your truck.

[special-K]

I drove a`70 C/30 with an 11' utility bed and ladder racks.It had a TH400,which was no help for stopping,and power brakes.I kept the aluminum/vinyl siding materials in the bed,bins full of tools,generator,brake,and all my ladders,pump-jack poles,and aluminum walkboards on the 15' ladder racks.I ran my business out of it for four years and around 125,000 miles and the pretty N.O.S. grille,front bumper,and guards that I put on it were undamaged when I sold it.Go figure.I always wanted to put discs on the front,but never had a chance.

[Longhorn Man]

exactly. Although, the 3/4 ton and one ton brakes are way better, but none the less, iff ppl say it has drums...they get scared. Hell, they were still selling cars with 4 wheel drums up into the early 80's.

[Matt67C10]

I've got the original, all drum setup with no power assist. They work, but compared to modern brakes, they're merely a suggestion. You have to make sure you leave plenty of following distance and plan ahead... I just got my truck back on the road after sitting for 10 years in the wife's grandfather's barn, and have never driven it in the rain, so I can'tv tell you about braking in the wet. These brakes are, well, an adventure and I'd recommend an upgrade if you're not looking to keep it stock.

[MACO]

Biggest problem I see with drum brakes is when you are driving on high curvy mountian roads like we have on the west coast. By the time you get to the bottom of a long downhill road with lots of twists and turns it will be 2 feet on the brakes and lucky if you can slow down. On some of the higher mountian road if you are not carefull with your speed even newer disc/drum setup cars and truck can experience significant brake fade.