3/4 ton 4wd front wheel hub help!

[freakshow108]

Ive been looking everywhere for more front wheel hubs for my 71 k20 and have come up empty. I know you guys can help. Im trying to convert my eaton ho72 rear to discs, and ive found the bracket and only need the hubs from 71 through 76 k20s. Can anyone please lead me in the right direction? All of my local wrecking yards are a no-go so im reduced to begging. Thanks for any help you can give. by the way i am converting because the patrs for the eaton and specificaly the 71 are becoming too hard to find and way to costly.

[Longhorn Man]

you tried the parts store?
I'll move this to the 4X4 section

[Blazer1970]

You are going to use Dana 44 front hubs on your H052 rear axle?? How is that going to work?

[freakshow108]

ruff stuff indusries makes a braket thet bolts straight to the HO72 axle and the front wheel hubs and rotors , and calipers(from a 71-76 3/4 ton 4wd) slide right on.

[msgross]

sounds easier just to go find a 14bolt...

[swamp rat]

Ever find the hubs yet? I was thinking about doing a conversion like this with my HO52, i have saved a link at home to a webpage for a conversion but i'm not in a position to do that just yet.

[special-K]

I plan on doing the same thing.Not sure what parts it'll take,though.14-bolts don't have discs either and probably require the same parts to convert.If not I'm sure whatever works on a 14-bolt will work on the Corporate axles.the Corporates are just way cooler than 14-bolts,so when you're done you really have something.i bought hubs and calipers from Pep Boys for a '71 C/20 and am sure NAPA would have them.

[freakshow108]

Originally Posted by msgross

sounds easier just to go find a 14bolt...

ruff stuff industries makes the brackets that will bolt up to the ho72 and take the same calipers as the front. all i did was press off the drums from the rear and then press on the , stock , front rotors to the rear hubs. so far every thing seems to lign up perfectly and i appear to have the brake line figured out except for the prop. vavle. but that will come later when i get the body put on.

[freakshow108]

Originally Posted by Blazer1970

You are going to use Dana 44 front hubs on your H052 rear axle?? How is that going to work?

it wont. i was wrong. the front hubs will not fit on the rear. i just reused the rear hubs after i pulled my head out of my butt and used my common sense! all i did was press the front rotors onto the rear hub, they fit perfect with the brackets from ruff stuff industries, 60$ shipped!

[swamp rat]

>>>i just reused the rear hubs <<<

Thats good news! what about the disks, have a part number?? Do you think i can reuse my rear hubs on the HO52??

[freakshow108]

Originally Posted by swamp rat

>>>i just reused the rear hubs <<<

Thats good news! what about the disks, have a part number?? Do you think i can reuse my rear hubs on the HO52??

you should be able to. and the disc that are used on the front are what i used for the rear. you should be able to press the rear drums off of the hubs and then press on the new rotors.

[swamp rat]

Thanks! I definantly want to know how this turns out!

[TheWhiteElephant]

Originally Posted by freakshow108

you should be able to. and the disc that are used on the front are what i used for the rear. you should be able to press the rear drums off of the hubs and then press on the new rotors.

I was thinking of doing the same thing to my '73. Any other issues you've come across that are worth mentioning?

[freakshow108]

Originally Posted by TheWhiteElephant

I was thinking of doing the same thing to my '73. Any other issues you've come across that are worth mentioning?

The only issues, that arent that big, are converting the brake hoses to adapt to the rear brake lines. I finally figured it out and should have photos soon. The brakets that i purchased are top notch, fit like a glove, line up perfetly and are very affordable. My next speed bump will be locating the proper proportioning valve. I will tackle that when the body goes on.

[swamp rat]

Originally Posted by freakshow108

The only issues, that arent that big, are converting the brake hoses to adapt to the rear brake lines. I finally figured it out and should have photos soon. The brakets that i purchased are top notch, fit like a glove, line up perfetly and are very affordable. My next speed bump will be locating the proper proportioning valve. I will tackle that when the body goes on.

You are definantly treading the ground i want to walk on, please keep track of part numbers and where your getting the stuff. once i can do this i'm definantly going to.

[LostMy65]

I stumbled across that site a couple days ago:
http://www.ruffstuffspecialties.com/...roducts_id=289

I've noticed that DIY4X has updated theirs to say it will work with eaton also:
http://diy4x.com/cart/index.php?rout...&product_id=35

I am so glad to find someone doing this here in my favorite forum

How's the progress?

[72longbed]

I did a disk conversion on my HO72 about 6 or 7 years ago. The first conversion I did was to a 14 bolt FF that I had under there before I found the HO72. To illustrate how close these axles are, I was able to use the same caliper support brackets on the HO72 that I had on the 14 bolt FF. NO problem. I then took the HO72 hubs apart and pressed in new studs with 1976 K20 front rotors. I am also using 1976 K20 calipers on the back.

The truck has the same size rotors (12.5" ?) front and rear now. Works very well with a corvette dual disk master cylinder and prop valve from Classic Industries.

I have a pair of Eldorado calipers, pads, levers, springs, etc. with the parking brake built in if anybody is interested in them. They are in excellent shape, just one needs a new bleeder valve installed.

The HO72 and the 14 bolt FF are very similar out there at the 'business end'.

Good building!!

72longbed

[fayettecopa]

Might be interested in the eldorado stuff.
My 14 year is getting ready to start on a 68 K20.
Would be nice to have disk brakes.
Still scratching my head about the closed knuckle dana 44 drum brake front axle.
Would be nice to get disks up there - guess I'll have to find a front axle from the 70s.

[72longbed]

I would if I were you. There's no comparison; drums vs. disks. I put an 8 lug (large spindle) Dana 44 up front, totally rebuilt, and it has been a great axle. You shouldn't have any trouble finding a Dana 44 for your project. I would look for a 71 on up though.

72longbed

[freakshow108]

if you dont mind driving out to washington state, you can have the dana 44 laying in my garage.lol

[freakshow108]

Originally Posted by 72longbed

I did a disk conversion on my HO72 about 6 or 7 years ago. The first conversion I did was to a 14 bolt FF that I had under there before I found the HO72. To illustrate how close these axles are, I was able to use the same caliper support brackets on the HO72 that I had on the 14 bolt FF. NO problem. I then took the HO72 hubs apart and pressed in new studs with 1976 K20 front rotors. I am also using 1976 K20 calipers on the back.

The truck has the same size rotors (12.5" ?) front and rear now. Works very well with a corvette dual disk master cylinder and prop valve from Classic Industries.

I have a pair of Eldorado calipers, pads, levers, springs, etc. with the parking brake built in if anybody is interested in them. They are in excellent shape, just one needs a new bleeder valve installed.

The HO72 and the 14 bolt FF are very similar out there at the 'business end'.

Good building!!

72longbed

can you send me a link to classic ind. master cylinder?

[swamp rat]

Originally Posted by freakshow108

if you dont mind driving out to washington state, you can have the dana 44 laying in my garage.lol

PsssssT! Hey Hang on to that i may need parts when i do my front end!

[72longbed]

Just went and looked under the hood. That's a 'Classic Performance Products' dual disk proportioning valve and a corvette dual disk master cylinder. I am not sure if I got the master cylinder from them also?

Their logo is 'CPP'. I remember that I had to put a different actuating rod in place when I changed out the master cylinder. It's the rod (about 3" long?) that goes in between the master cylinder and the vacuum resorvior.

When you order these parts, check to see if they can supply the different rod too.

72longbed

[freakshow108]

I appreciate the info Longbed.

[freakshow108]

I appreciate the info Longbed. What is the chance i could get a photo of that set up?