Drum to Disc on the front? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

GreenMystChevy · 03-11-2003, 01:51 PM

I haven't been reading up on 4x4's as much as I should have, of course I have never owned one. SO this question has probably been asked a few times, I just could find it when I searched.

So, my question is how would I go about doing a drum to disc brake conversion on the front of a '72 GMC 1/2 ton 4x4? Would be nice to do the rear too but I'm sure it would get pretty pricey.

I am just a little bit leary of driving around a truck that I am going to have some heavy tires on and pulling a boat with 4 wheel drum brakes, manual of course. Might take a little bit longer to stop than the guy in front of me would like.

**JIMs70GMC** · 03-11-2003, 02:14 PM

72 should already have disc up front, came out in 71. 70 was the last year for drums up front.
The easiest way would be to find a disc front end from a 71 or newer (73 and up prefered) GM. The swap would be a direct bolt in. Replace brake hoses and new master cylinder and your off. You would probably want to goto power brakes because disc need more pressure than drums.

The rear would be straight forward as several companies make the brackets that use gm(dana44) rotors and eldorado(78-79) calipers. Good tech article on this very swap at www.coloradok5.com

GreenMystChevy · 03-11-2003, 02:19 PM

Interesting. So they got rid of drums in the front altogether that year? Going to have to wait till I get it to my place and check out some of the numbers.
Well, would anyone happen to know how to do a conversion or do I have to know exactly what's under there first?

**JIMs70GMC** · 03-11-2003, 02:20 PM

edited my post.

03-11-2003, 01:51 PM	#1
GreenMystChevy Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Woodinville, WA Posts: 513	Drum to Disc on the front? I haven't been reading up on 4x4's as much as I should have, of course I have never owned one. SO this question has probably been asked a few times, I just could find it when I searched. So, my question is how would I go about doing a drum to disc brake conversion on the front of a '72 GMC 1/2 ton 4x4? Would be nice to do the rear too but I'm sure it would get pretty pricey. I am just a little bit leary of driving around a truck that I am going to have some heavy tires on and pulling a boat with 4 wheel drum brakes, manual of course. Might take a little bit longer to stop than the guy in front of me would like. __________________ Jeremy '71 C-10 '72 GMC K2500 '72 Nova (Dad's) '70 Chevelle SS '55 Sedan Delivery Attempting to build up this here 4x4...make her real tall and purty...well, maybe just tall

03-11-2003, 02:14 PM	#2
JIMs70GMC user # 2756 Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Chesapeake, Virginia Posts: 4,612	72 should already have disc up front, came out in 71. 70 was the last year for drums up front. The easiest way would be to find a disc front end from a 71 or newer (73 and up prefered) GM. The swap would be a direct bolt in. Replace brake hoses and new master cylinder and your off. You would probably want to goto power brakes because disc need more pressure than drums. The rear would be straight forward as several companies make the brackets that use gm(dana44) rotors and eldorado(78-79) calipers. Good tech article on this very swap at www.coloradok5.com __________________ 1970 K25, 8' stepside bed 350/465/205 44 up front, 60 in the rear 4.10s rolling on 33" Dunlop MTs 1986 K5, 350/465/208 Dana 60/14 bolt from a cucv 36" Super Swampers TSL/SX 1983 K20 w/ CUCV axles, 350/700R4/208 sitting on 37" Goodyears 1986 M1031 6.2 diesel, TH400/NP205 locker in the rear and a LS in the front, all stock for now..... 1986 K30, 350/400/205 dana 60 and 14 bolt. I kept the drivetrain. Body/bad and chassis are gone. 1981 K30, 350/465/205 dana 60 and dually 14 bolt. Has a G80, and a flat bed. Going to replace the flat bed. 1985 K20, 350/400/208 10 bolt and SF 14 bolt. I wonder where I can find some 1 tons. Hmmmmm Last edited by JIMs70GMC; 03-11-2003 at 02:19 PM.

03-11-2003, 02:19 PM	#3
GreenMystChevy Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Woodinville, WA Posts: 513	Interesting. So they got rid of drums in the front altogether that year? Going to have to wait till I get it to my place and check out some of the numbers. Well, would anyone happen to know how to do a conversion or do I have to know exactly what's under there first? __________________ Jeremy '71 C-10 '72 GMC K2500 '72 Nova (Dad's) '70 Chevelle SS '55 Sedan Delivery Attempting to build up this here 4x4...make her real tall and purty...well, maybe just tall

03-11-2003, 02:20 PM	#4
JIMs70GMC user # 2756 Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Chesapeake, Virginia Posts: 4,612	edited my post. __________________ 1970 K25, 8' stepside bed 350/465/205 44 up front, 60 in the rear 4.10s rolling on 33" Dunlop MTs 1986 K5, 350/465/208 Dana 60/14 bolt from a cucv 36" Super Swampers TSL/SX 1983 K20 w/ CUCV axles, 350/700R4/208 sitting on 37" Goodyears 1986 M1031 6.2 diesel, TH400/NP205 locker in the rear and a LS in the front, all stock for now..... 1986 K30, 350/400/205 dana 60 and 14 bolt. I kept the drivetrain. Body/bad and chassis are gone. 1981 K30, 350/465/205 dana 60 and dually 14 bolt. Has a G80, and a flat bed. Going to replace the flat bed. 1985 K20, 350/400/208 10 bolt and SF 14 bolt. I wonder where I can find some 1 tons. Hmmmmm

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