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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2021
Location: tukwila, wa
Posts: 24
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1970 k20 disc brake conversion
i need a little help here from someone that has done a disc brake conversion on a 1970 k20 with the aardvark open knuckle drum axle. I have a full dana 44 1973 axle here but the ring and pinion are toast. i was planning on doing the knuckle out swap and be done with it.
im getting mixed info from reading older posts on the forums. some say that it will not work because the axles are different lengths and width. and some say just swap the knuckle out and it its good to go. so my question is can i use the 1970 axles and do the knuckle out swap or is it basically impossible because this year has one off parts that are not compatible with anything else? |
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#2 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Dunbarton, NH
Posts: 281
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Re: 1970 k20 disc brake conversion
Here is a page out of the Spicer parts catalog that lists the Bill of Materials/Part Numbers for the 70 and 73 D44 axles. Note that the part numbers for the axle assemblies are different between the 70 and 73.
The BOM is stamped into the axle. On my 70 K10 axle it is stamped on the drivers side facing forward. I know that on the K10 D44, the axle shaft/u-joints were larger starting in 72. Hope this helps.
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Steve/NH 1967 K10 327 Short Bed Stepside 2008 F350 Power Stroke Lariat 2007 BMW X3 2023 BMW X3 M-Sport 2020 BMW 540xi M-Sport 1995 Harley FLSTC |
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2021
Location: tukwila, wa
Posts: 24
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Re: 1970 k20 disc brake conversion
Ok, thats verifies that the axles are different. I am wondering what i would need to make it work with the 73 wheel ends. New seals and bearings for the hub to fit the disc hub? I really dont want to tear into a perfectly working axle then find out its not possible.
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#4 | |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: cooperstown. ny
Posts: 1,576
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Re: 1970 k20 disc brake conversion
Quote:
__________________
1972 Chevy Custom Deluxe Highlander, owned 34 years. 1970 GMC Sierra Grande 2500, unrestored, original. 1970 Chevy K10 Short Wide-bed, working on restoration.. 1967 Chevy K10 Short Stepside, unrestored original. 1969 GMC CST (Longhorn) 396, buckets, unrestored. 1995 GMC K2500, 65,000 miles, 454. |
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#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2021
Location: tukwila, wa
Posts: 24
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Re: 1970 k20 disc brake conversion
I can't remember exactly what I did but I ended up buying rotors, calipers, pads, bearings, seals, pretty much much everything new from the knuckle out besides the spindles. All the parts I bought were for a 72k20. The axles were a different length and thickness so I used the older ones.
Besides having to buy a bunch of parts, it's pretty straight foward. |
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#6 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Colfax-California
Posts: 8,556
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Re: 1970 k20 disc brake conversion
Axle difference is the u-joint. Drum brakes utilized the spicer 260x joint and the later disc brake up to 91 in the Blazer and Suburban used the 289 joint (5-760x)
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#7 |
All about them K’s
![]() Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Land of Entrapment
Posts: 6,403
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Re: 1970 k20 disc brake conversion
Also the shafts themselves on the 72+ are slightly bigger than the 71 down. But that won’t affect your swap. It should be pretty much straight forward, swap everything from the knuckle out with the disk break stuff. You could even use a donor axle for the parts.
__________________
Tyler '57 3100 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=813888 '72 K20 Cheyenne: 5” lift, 35’s, front dana 60 blah blah blah… http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=662879 ‘69 K10 SWB: 4” lift 33”s… in a million pieces http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=805206 '98 Silverado LT K2500HD ECLB Vortec 454/4l80E: 6" lift 35x12.5x20’s |
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#8 | |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: cooperstown. ny
Posts: 1,576
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Re: 1970 k20 disc brake conversion
Quote:
__________________
1972 Chevy Custom Deluxe Highlander, owned 34 years. 1970 GMC Sierra Grande 2500, unrestored, original. 1970 Chevy K10 Short Wide-bed, working on restoration.. 1967 Chevy K10 Short Stepside, unrestored original. 1969 GMC CST (Longhorn) 396, buckets, unrestored. 1995 GMC K2500, 65,000 miles, 454. |
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#9 |
All stock and staying that way
![]() Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Elkland, PA
Posts: 1,506
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All of 1971 and early 1972 disc brake Dana 44's used the smaller U-Joint, same as 1969-70 open knuckle drums. The bigger joint and updated seals were a late 1972 and up.
__________________
1970 K/5 Blazer CST 4WD, Bronze, 93k ACT. miles, 350, 4 speed, positraction, 16.5" x 8.25" wheel option, tilt, tach, vacuum, AM/FM, manual throttle...Dad ordered and purchased new 4/70. Currently frame off restoration in progress... ![]() 1972 Cheyenne Super 20 2WD, DK Blue/White, 90K ACT. miles, 402, TH400, 4.10 open, tilt, tach, vacuum, A/C, AM/FM, manual throttle.. A mostly original paint never rusted Texas survivor... ![]() 2017 Sierra 1500 SLT 4WD, Black, 41k miles, 5.3, 6L80E, 3.42 LS, 20" polished wheels, everything but moonroof and 6.2... 2019 Canyon SLT 4WD, White, 60k miles, 3.6, 8L45, 3.23 LS, 18" wheels |
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#10 | |
All about them K’s
![]() Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Land of Entrapment
Posts: 6,403
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Re: 1970 k20 disc brake conversion
Quote:
All of the 67-91 solid axles will interchange physically with each other as in you can bolt up a 91 axle into a 67. All of the disk brake dana 44 stuff will interchange between 71-80 which is approximately when GM started introducing the 10 bolt which is pretty much the corporate copy of the 44. Most parts between the 44 and 10 bolt will interchange.
__________________
Tyler '57 3100 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=813888 '72 K20 Cheyenne: 5” lift, 35’s, front dana 60 blah blah blah… http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=662879 ‘69 K10 SWB: 4” lift 33”s… in a million pieces http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=805206 '98 Silverado LT K2500HD ECLB Vortec 454/4l80E: 6" lift 35x12.5x20’s |
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