1960-62 rear end

[60burb4me]

what is the difference between the 1960-62 chevy rear ends and the 63 and beyond. I know some are a little wider, and have different gear ratio's!! but if the trailing arms are the same. what is the difference??

[jonzcustomshop]

60-62 have the drop out center, like a ford 9 inch.
the trailing arm pads are welded on wider than the 63-66 (not sure the actual measurement, but for example if the trailing arm pads are 50 inches center to center on the 60-62, they are about 47 inches center to center on a 63-66), also the center link is located in a different spot on the rear.

[60burb4me]

any good ideas for a rear end swap. looking to go with disc brakes and was hoping to do minimal work. thought about taking a 63 truck rear end and putting on new mounting pads. dosent sound like that will work?

[jonzcustomshop]

contact captianfab- on this site, he sells a disc brake kit for the rear, and also new weld on mounting pads.

here is his link for 64-87 discs:
http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=494411

[Brad54]

There are two '60-'62 rear ends: one drop-out center with a rear cover that bolts on, the other is the Dana 44.

The '63-up may have had other options as well, but the most common is the 12-bolt.

As already said, the mounting perches are in a different location between for '60-62 trucks and '63-up.

The panhard bar mount on the '60-'62 trucks is mounted on the axle tube about midway between the center and the trailing arm.
On '64-up, the panhard mount is cast into the center section.
I THINK, but do not remember for sure, the '63 may have the same kind of mounting bracket as the '60-62: on the axle tube.

The Dana 44 was used on just about everything, from every manufacturer from Studebaker to Ford to Corvettes and Vipers.

There should be lots of disc brake kits available for them, IF you can find one for 6-bolt axles.
If not, you can have a set of axles made with a Ford pattern and get some Explore brakes... it's not all a bolt-in, but with some investigation it can be done.
Unfortunately, the coil-spring 44s are hard to come by.

-Brad

[Captainfab]

If you want to add rear disc brakes, you do not want a '63 truck 12 bolt. They have pressed on backing plates. You will want a '64 and up truck 12 bolt. The '64 to early '70 will be 6 lug and the correct width. The late '70 will still be 6 lug but 1.5" wider. The '71 & '72 12 bolt will be 1.5" wider and have the 5 x 5" wheel stud pattern, but will be setup for the trailing arm suspension. The '73 and up are of course originally setup for leaf springs. This is all specific to the C10 trucks. The K5's and K10's will follow the same width changes but will all be 6 lug.

I do offer 3 rear disc brackets for the 5 x 5" and 2 for the 6 x 5.5 wheel stud patterns

[60burb4me]

thanks for the information not sure what im going to do yet but the information is helpful