1967-72 Front ends drum to disc

[stsalvage]

there is a lot of talk Now days in the front end swaps I'm hearing you can just take off the old drum brakes and swap a set of upper and lower ball joints tie rods and brake hoses and spindles.No need to touch the A frame.Now others say different Lets put it to rest

I need all the detail of Why you can't

On 1962--67 nova's all you have to do is swap out the spindles Camaro's as well

There are a lof of us that have good straight no problem alinement front ends Tell us all why We must Change the A frame A arms is there a clearance problem .

Are the A Arms made different from a 1964--69 This has been a big question In why

If you have spec's on why the Drum front ends can't be converted to disc Just by using the Spindles and not touch the front A frame We all like to be tot a lesson.

[Bert W]

all ears on this one.

[stsalvage]

its one that has bother the hell out of me.

Spindles cost enough but if you can swap out a set from a 1973--87 1/2 ton on 3/4 ton and use different tie rods and pitmen arm and bracket and different hoses size
To me change out the Stock A frame is NUTT's.
I know there are ton's of old Chevy trucks out there that don't eat up tires at all.and after you change you Have to keep going back to the alinement shop.
I just like to have a fair and to the point answer

[shawno72]

Originally Posted by Bert W

all ears on this one.

x2

[Dano69c10]

You can use "69-74 Chevelle Rotors" and "69-72 Camaro calipers" on our spindles, just change the master cylinder use a disc brake prop valve and these brackets $119.

http://www.classicperform.com/Store/.../6370DBK-5.htm


or you can buy the whole kit without the booster and MC for $375

http://www.classicperform.com/Store/...s/4754CBK5.htm


or with the booster $599

http://www.classicperform.com/Store/...k/6062CBK5.htm

Downside is you are now on a 4.75" bolt circle.

Just pop off your wheels and hubs...INSTALL!
Dano

[Dano69c10]

It would be nice if you could get the discs with the 6-lug or 5 on 5 lug pattern. Maybe a machine shop could redrill them badboys.

[VA72C10]

moved this to suspension where lolife99 will see this.

I believe that the time people modify a-arms are to allow clearance with smaller diameter wheels (certain 15's) when using disc brakes with drop spindles...and that is just removing a small section for clearance at lock to lock turn I believe?

I've never heard of completely changing the a-arms to fit disc brake spindles so that's news to me....

He'll have better info than me though...

[lolife99]

Go here:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=444823
Pick the thread that applies to you.
Read.
This topic is discussed here every day.
If you still have questions feel free to ask.

The bottom line,... the aftermarket industry NOW MAKES "direct bolt-on" spindles for any year truck from 1960-1987 (and more).
No a-arm change.
No ball joint change
No tie rod change.

Bolt the spindles on.
Add 1/2-ton rotors, calipers, and hoses.
Bolt a disc/drum master cylinder and prop valve to your truck.
Plumb the steel lines.
Bleed brakes.
Done.

[VA72C10]

Thanks, knew you had something like this....bookmarked the link for the future...


YOU DA MAN!!!

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by stsalvage

its one that has bother the hell out of me.

Spindles cost enough but if you can swap out a set from a 1973--87 1/2 ton on 3/4 ton and use different tie rods and pitmen arm and bracket and different hoses size
To me change out the Stock A frame is NUTT's.
I know there are ton's of old Chevy trucks out there that don't eat up tires at all.and after you change you Have to keep going back to the alinement shop.
I just like to have a fair and to the point answer

Spindles are $228 at www.performanceonline.com every day.
You mention 3/4 ton?
Are you converting a 3/4 ton to 1/2 ton?
ECE (www.earlyclassic.com) makes a 3/4 ton to 1/2 ton "conversion spindle",... that is bolt-on also

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by VA72C10

Thanks, knew you had something like this....bookmarked the link for the future...

It's at the top of the Suspension Forum in the "Stickied Threads".
(for everyone to see. Ha)

[VA72C10]

Originally Posted by lolife99

It's at the top of the Suspension Forum in the "Stickied Threads".
(for everyone to see. Ha)

At least I've read the site rules

[lolife99]

3/4 ton to 1/2 ton conversion tech article.
This is on ECE's website.
This is a suburban,... but it's the same thing.
Buy the spindles from ECE.
The rest you can get locally at your parts store.
http://www.earlyclassic.com/tech.aspx?category=Dropping The Big Ship

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by stsalvage

there is a lot of talk Now days in the front end swaps I'm hearing you can just take off the old drum brakes and swap a set of upper and lower ball joints tie rods and brake hoses and spindles.
No need to swap balljoints or tie rod ends.

No need to touch the A frame.
Correct.
Now others say different Lets put it to rest

There are a lof of us that have good straight no problem alinement front ends Tell us all why We must Change the A frame A arms is there a clearance problem .
No need to.
I don't recommend this ever.
(unless you have a rust issue with your original crossmember)

Are the A Arms made different from a 1964--69 This has been a big question In why

A-arms are the same from 60-72.
Ball joints are different.
73-87 a-arms are different. (rubber bushed)
Aftermarket spndles are a bolt-on.
You can buy them in standard or drop spindle versions.

If you have spec's on why the Drum front ends can't be converted to disc Just by using the Spindles and not touch the front A frame We all like to be tot a lesson.
It's done all the time with just a spindle conversion.

I hope this will answer the OP's questions.

[stsalvage]

No what i'm asking why is all the Buzz about Changing the whole Dam front end why is every one going around the answer Can you switch the drum brakes from a 1/2 that has drum brakes with out changing anything but the Spindles tie rods and other little parts


Sam gose for the 3/4 ton Can you Just change the spindles from drum to disc with out changing the whole front end

Never could understand why you had to take a perfectly good front end that GM installed on a 1964--70 truck just to put disc brakes on

are the A arms different

Is there a clearance issue on the disc brakes from the drum brake A arms Did i make it clear enough

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by stsalvage

No what i'm asking why is all the Buzz about Changing the whole Dam front end why is every one going around the answer Can you switch the drum brakes from a 1/2 that has drum brakes with out changing anything but the Spindles tie rods and other little parts
YES.
Just change the spindle.
I'm trying to answer your question.
If you use oem spindles,... Not aftermarket,... you will be required to chage balljoints and tie rods,... but NOT crossmembers and a-arms.
People change the entire crossmember assembly because it's easier, and they don't plan on disassembling or rebuilding the enitre crossemember

Sam gose for the 3/4 ton Can you Just change the spindles from drum to disc with out changing the whole front end
YES

Never could understand why you had to take a perfectly good front end that GM installed on a 1964--70 truck just to put disc brakes on
You don't have to

are the A arms different
the upper and lowers are the same in the 1/2 ton version.

3/4 ton upper a-arms are the same (different balljoint)
3/4 ton lower a-arms have a bigger balljoint hole and balljoint

Is there a clearance issue on the disc brakes from the drum brake A arms?
Same a-arm.
Only clearance issue,... is using drop spindles with 15" rims with more than 3.5" of backspace.
A grinder will solve that issue.

Did i make it clear enough
yes

Read what I wrote,... please.

[PanelDeland]

One difference is in the Ball Joints.That seems to be because spindle taper are different.The later ball joints are cheaper and seem to be more readily available.There are several different ways to use a stock disc brake set-up on the earlier trucks.Most of them have been written up here on the BB.I'm running a 2 1/2 drop spindle and 6 lug disc on mine.The 5 lug was the same price but I wanted to stay with the 6 lug.I used factory Ball joints,tie rod ends,and only used spindles,rotors,calipers and hoses from the kit.IIRC the Ball joints are also different sizes where they press into the lower Ball Joint causing the problem of not being able to use early A-arms withdisc spindles from a stock set-up.