Disc Brake Upgrade Reference Thread

[Pflugerman]

Yes a 69. Thanks for the information!

[Sick5]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

As far as I know that will not work. If you want front disc brakes, you will have to either buy the aftermarket conversion spindles, or change your complete front suspension, crossmember and all.

Captain
would those spindles work on 64-66 crossmembers?

[Captainfab]

If you're referring to the '88-'98 2wd spindles, you will have to change the lower control arm to one from a C20. The '67-'72 C20 LCA's would be the easiest to make work. The '73-'87 C20 LCA's will work as well, but the bump stop bracket is taller. The LCA change is necessary to accomodate the larger '88-'98 lower balljoint.

Originally Posted by Sick5

Captain
would those spindles work on 64-66 crossmembers?

[Sick5]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

If you're referring to the '88-'98 2wd spindles, you will have to change the lower control arm to one from a C20. The '67-'72 C20 LCA's would be the easiest to make work. The '73-'87 C20 LCA's will work as well, but the bump stop bracket is taller. The LCA change is necessary to accomodate the larger '88-'98 lower balljoint.

thank you

[Captainfab]

Before you get too carried away, take a look in this thread:

http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=604836

Need to figure out what happened with this member's installation.

Originally Posted by Sick5

thank you

[Chevystep]

Hey fellers, I've been trolling this disc brake conversion thread for a while as well as researching other drum to disc info. I've got one important question for me, and that is that I'd like to use either.....my original wheels-love my bow tie hubcaps, or barring being able to use them, does some vintage wheel maker make a wheel that uses 66 wheel hubcaps while still having the offset for most 6 lug aftermarket disc conversions?

[aggie91]

Originally Posted by Chevystep

Hey fellers, I've been trolling this disc brake conversion thread for a while as well as researching other drum to disc info. I've got one important question for me, and that is that I'd like to use either.....my original wheels-love my bow tie hubcaps, or barring being able to use them, does some vintage wheel maker make a wheel that uses 66 wheel hubcaps while still having the offset for most 6 lug aftermarket disc conversions?

I am not 100% sure about this, but I do not believe that the stock original '66 wheels will clear the disc brake calipers and rotors.

BUT, there are a few places that make OEM style wheels that will clear the brakes and still use your stock caps.

Here is one source for the wheels:
http://www.thewheelsmith.net/CustomW...cessories.html

Take a look at this thread;
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=556602

Dino did convert to 5-lug on this truck, but used aftermarket wheels to keep the stock caps.


BTW, I have family down in the area of Texas. We have a family farm just a few miles east of Fredericksburg.

[Chevystep]

Hey! Thanks for the vintage wheel link! Looks like I can pick up some black 15" OEM's there when I figure out which way I'm going on the disc conversion...
Yup, Hill Country is mighty nice, albeit not too great this time of year with the cedar pollen!

[siggyfreud]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

Good point Chief. I sometimes forget that the '88-'98 spindle, rotor and calipers can be used for the 5x5 wheel bolt pattern as well as the 6x5.5 wheel bolt pattern. This is quite easy to do on the C20's

Apologies for pulling a quote from a few years back but this caught my eye.

As I have a 66 3/4 ton, could I just grab some new ball joints and spindles for an 88+ 1/2 ton, and attach them to the a-arms I currently have. Then I could piece the rest of the stuff (calipers, rotors, etc) from new parts, since I planned on rebuilding stuff anyways.

Is this doable?

[Captainfab]

I have not been able to confirm that this will work, but I think there is a high possibility it will. I just have not had the extra $$ to buy a '63-'66 C20 LBJ nor the time to tear apart my '66 C20 to check the size of the balljoints. I believe it was member Tincan1966 that said that the '88-'98 Balljoints will press into the '63-'66 LCA's. I just have not done it myself.

Originally Posted by siggyfreud

Apologies for pulling a quote from a few years back but this caught my eye.

As I have a 66 3/4 ton, could I just grab some new ball joints and spindles for an 88+ 1/2 ton, and attach them to the a-arms I currently have. Then I could piece the rest of the stuff (calipers, rotors, etc) from new parts, since I planned on rebuilding stuff anyways.

Is this doable?

[speed9895]

did we ever confirm that the 88-98 6 lug spindles work? and do the tie rods need to be cut for normal ride stance? to get the front end alignment?

[lolife99]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

Before you get too carried away, take a look in this thread:

http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=604836

Need to figure out what happened with this member's installation.

Originally Posted by speed9895

did we ever confirm that the 88-98 6 lug spindles work? and do the tie rods need to be cut for normal ride stance? to get the front end alignment?

You might want to look at this thread:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=620262

This combo of 88-98 spindles resulted in too much positive camber that requires either moving out the mounting point of the lower a-arms,...
or narrowering the upper a-arms.
I don't think this member (or myself) finds much money savings in doing this swap.

Quote:
ok, I said i would report back when i knew if my fix worked, and it did.
However, I'm just simply going to say that if your considering using 88-98 spindles to do a disc brake swap, don't.
I safely made mine work only because I am so deeply invested in it with new a arms, ball joints, rotors, calipers, tie rod ends, and a ton of time that I felt compelled to make it work.

[jdaniel]

I want disc brakes all the way around on my 70', which is "better"/ easier, 6 lug or 5 lug? I currently have 6 lug.

[Captainfab]

The 6 lug discs are not any more difficult than 5 lug. The tried and true way for 6 lug is to purchase the aftermarket 6 lug rotors for the disc brake spindles. Which is better is up to you as far as what wheels you want to run.

Originally Posted by jdaniel

I want disc brakes all the way around on my 70', which is "better"/ easier, 6 lug or 5 lug? I currently have 6 lug.

[jdaniel]

Thanks Captainfab, what about the rear? What stock caliper brackets, rotors, calipers, etc fit the 12 bolt rear end on the 70' ?

[Captainfab]

There are not any OEM caliper brackets that will boltup to the 12 bolt. I make 5 different rear disc brake conversion brackets.

Originally Posted by jdaniel

Thanks Captainfab, what about the rear? What stock caliper brackets, rotors, calipers, etc fit the 12 bolt rear end on the 70' ?

[hddoc]

OK, Iam confused, Why not just swap the cab , bed and nose over to a 87 donor truck or earlier model with all the front end and power steering and power brakes and disc brakes. I am a newbie at this but to me it seems easier and faster to just swap them over. Or maybe it is not that easy to do. Thanks Doc

[Captainfab]

No it is not easier to install a '60-'66 cab onto a '73-'87 frame BTDT. It is one heck of a lot of work and due to the differences on the '73-'87 frame you end up with a 3" body lift. Then you have the possible legal problems with the frame and cab VIN's not matching.

A power disc brake and power steering upgrade can easily be done in a weekend.

Originally Posted by hddoc

OK, Iam confused, Why not just swap the cab , bed and nose over to a 87 donor truck or earlier model with all the front end and power steering and power brakes and disc brakes. I am a newbie at this but to me it seems easier and faster to just swap them over. Or maybe it is not that easy to do. Thanks Doc

[jdaniel]

Thanks again, Captainfab! Do you sell your caliper brackets for the 12 bolt rears?

[hddoc]

Thanks for the info Capt. Doc.

[Captainfab]

All of the rear disc brake brackets that I make are for the '64-'82 truck 12 bolts and the '80-'87 10 bolts. There are links to the for sale threads in my signature line \/ \/ \/

Originally Posted by jdaniel

Thanks again, Captainfab! Do you sell your caliper brackets for the 12 bolt rears?

[frog65]

1994 donor 2500 van will the a arms& spindles work on 65 1/2ton

[Captainfab]

The a-arms are totally different and will not work. The spindles were previously thought to work, but a few members have had trouble with getting the correct camber degree. So until a solution is found, I would advise against using those spindles......unless you want to work out the issue.

Originally Posted by frog65

1994 donor 2500 van will the a arms& spindles work on 65 1/2ton

[TypeSL2]

Nevermind.... This thread has changed since the last time I was on here my question was answered already.

James

[TypeSL2]

Well, I take that back. That did not exactly answer my question. What is the purpose of swapping the C20 LCAs onto my 64 for the 88-98 spindle swap? My spindles bolted right up yesterday, but I must be missing something somewhere?

James