DIY Disc Brake Conversion

[dwcsr]

Originally Posted by Nate_

Does anyone have any updates for the disc brakes? I'm thinking about getting the brackets that Mike got from ebay. I need to get moving on my truck in order to meet my May goal of being on the road.

Also, has anyone found the kingpins with the needle bearings for the 3/4 ton truck? I have found them for the 1/2 ton but not the 3/4.

Anyone else find the tapered roller bearings for the wheels for a "reasonable" price?
Nate

What needle bearings are you looking for. King pins are bushings and the pivot bearing is a ball bearing.

You don't have to convert to taper wheel bearings. The ball bearing is rated correctly for your truck and the disc addition doesn't change that. As long as they are in good shape leave them.

We have been selling 3/4 and one tom kits for a while now.

[Nate_]

I have seen kits with the needle bearings in place of the copper sleeves that go into the axle. At least that's how it am interpreting it. I have read that the ball bearings are not good or will not work with the disc brakes and are the ball bearings ok for "today's" highway speeds?

[dwcsr]

Originally Posted by Nate_

I have seen kits with the needle bearings in place of the copper sleeves that go into the axle. At least that's how it am interpreting it. I have read that the ball bearings are not good or will not work with the disc brakes and are the ball bearings ok for "today's" highway speeds?

They work with disc brakes fine. I've never read anything from a bearing maker or a car maker that states otherwise. I have seen as much negative internet lore against swapping ball to roller as I have about using ball on disc. I haven't read yet that anyone says yes that happened to me first hand, its always I heard it can or some one wrote there cousins first wife's nephew ............ As long as your using good bearings and they are clean and properly greased and adjusted there should be no issue. Ball bearings are use in a multitude of high speed high temp applications. Is taper better,,, Yes,, but there is no direct swap from ball to taper its a make fit swap.

The real issue is making sure the bearing is adjusted properly on a disc, its much more critical that on a drum brake. Angular contact bearing, which are the ball type on the spindle now, are characterized as capable of much higher RPM. Taper roller ( modern spindle) have more thrust radial load capacity, (not radial tire load), and are stiffer that angular contact. that means they can use a smaller bearing and get the same load capacity.

With that said he angular contact ball is capable of 100% load in radial or thrust postilions or a combination of 100%

Would a angular ball bear be good for road race where there is a lot of thrust load, no. Taper would be better.

[Nate_]

Dave,
Thanks for all of the information. It will save me quite a bit of money sticking with the ball bearings.