5 lug to 6 lug rotors?

[haeusser]

Would it really be that simple is to switch out 5 lug rotors to 6 lug? Are the spindle's the same diameter?



-josh

[SCOTI]

If you use 6-lug conversion rotors from the board supporting vendors, they're a direct swap.

[Longhorn Man]

welcome to the board josh!
I got an old army buddy up in fremont.

[Riveted1]

I think this is a first! Wanting to go from 5 to 6? It's usually the other way around. Got some 6-lug wheels you've got ur eye on or something?

[67ChevyRedneck]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

If you use 6-lug conversion rotors from the board supporting vendors, they're a direct swap.

Yep, they're a little pricey, but direct swap. I've got ECE's on my truck.

[haeusser]

who's your army buddy in fremont??

I found a nice set of wheels from a friend, really cheap, but there 6 lug. I already have the rear axle's, just need 6 lug rotors. My local parts store said they have 6 lug rotors for a 71 for 75 a piece. Those from the parts store wont be a direct bolt in? Who has the direct bolt ins?? Thank you for the replys!!

[Classic Heartbeat]

The six lug rotors at the parts store are probably for a 4x4. All parts stores that I know of do not get the conversion rotors. They are manufactured by different companies that specialize in conversion parts. Mainline parts stores buy from direct replacement manufacturers. We have them in stock. Here is a link if you are interested: http://www.classicheartbeat.com/67-7...suspension.htm WES

[Riveted1]

We need pics of the wheels

[scottrod71]

Welcome to the forum..... Be careful to check out pricing before you commit to the 6 lug wheels. the rotors for 6 lug wheel were close to $200 apiece and only available in 1 or 2 places the last time I checked. The 5 lug versions were off the shelf anywhere at about $50 apiece. And yes, they do swap direct without any mods. Good luck!

[ERASER5]

They are waaay cheaper now. Mine were $80 ea. That is still a lot, but much cheaper than changing axals.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by scottrod71

Welcome to the forum..... Be careful to check out pricing before you commit to the 6 lug wheels. the rotors for 6 lug wheel were close to $200 apiece and only available in 1 or 2 places the last time I checked. The 5 lug versions were off the shelf anywhere at about $50 apiece. And yes, they do swap direct without any mods. Good luck!

Time to update your price checks . ..... Prices for 6-lug conversion rotors (6x5.5 pattern) for 71-87 spindles ranged from $129/pair up to $160/each for cross-drilled. Sources I checked were GMC Pauls, Wes @ Classic Heartbeat, ECE, CPP, & Performance Online.

[scottrod71]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

Time to update your price checks . ..... Prices for 6-lug conversion rotors (6x5.5 pattern) for 71-87 spindles ranged from $129/pair up to $160/each for cross-drilled. Sources I checked were GMC Pauls, Wes @ Classic Heartbeat, ECE, CPP, & Performance Online.

Well, it has been over a year since I swapped mine out and I used ECE front and rear. I remember talking to someone at ECE because I couldn't believe the rotor price. He told me the 6 lugs rotors were proprietary and everyone had to buy from the same source. Maybe that has changed??? Anyway, thats the main reason (plus the obvious better choice for wheels) I decided to swap over to 5 lug. Thats also a good example of why this forum works, someone may have different info or ideas.

[67ChevyRedneck]

I checked ECE earlier and they were $89 each for non drilled rotors. The drilled rotors are $160 each.

http://www.earlyclassic.com/catalog.aspx

[70rs/ss]

What is the rear in the truck (5 or 6 lug, year, etc). The reason I ask, is that if it is a 5-lug there is a chance that the housing is the longer housing (67-70ish was narrower than the 70ish-72 housing) and the 6-lug axles from the narrow version will not fit properly in the wider housing. If they are aftermarket axles for your housing then my comments are moot. Just wanted to point that out, as the rear end/axles swap if they are mismatched, and the cost of the front rotors could end up making the swap backwards to 6-lug not as cost effective as buying new 5-lug wheels in the same style as the "good deal" on the 6-lug wheels. All 2wd truck rears(to my knowledge, but I am not an expert) with 6-lug axles were from 67-70 years. The rears seemed to change mid-year according to some folks, so if it is a 70 model rear, then a quick measurement will be the only for sure way to know. So basing my thoughts on my guesstimations, you have a set of older used 6-lug axles that will be too narrow to swap into a wider 5-lug housing, so you'll also need to buy new axles for about $300, along with the $$$ for the rotors. Good Luck either way, hope my ideas make sense and help??



One other thing and i think most guys here will agree, the 6-lug rotor is a special deal only offered from a few vendors, so if in the small chance you swap and later need another rotor ASAP due to some unforseen problem, you'll need to order and wait as a replacement isn't available at the locl autozone. I know not too many chances of it happening, but Murphey kicks my butt a lot, and that being said I'd be driving somewhere in BFE, and have a failure, may not happen but just yet another FYI from the worry wart.

[Riveted1]

That's a good point 70rs/ss... I'm keeping my truck 6-lug, but if I had to do it all over again, I'd probably go to the 5 lug.

[70rs/ss]

I added a little more to my post after you read it rivited1, so I hope my changes didn't effect your thoughts? I was trying to swap my 99 Tahoe to 6-lug as I had a set of wheels from my 05 Yukon XL that I rolled and it was never going to happen. In the 89-99 2wd trucks there was only a 5-lug, but the 00 and up went to a 6-lug, I tried and tried to make it work, but rotors are a one thing deal and no one would sell me a blank 5-lug rotor (made for my application without the holes for the studs so I could drill with the 6-lug style). I have a very nice set of 6-lug, 20" wheels and no where to go with them. i may build a truck (67-72) with 6-lugs just so I can use them, but the cost of the swap is keeping the wheels in storage for now.

[haeusser]

I have a whole 67 rear end that im swapping out. 3.55 gear i think. Truck was a 3 on the tree so im expecting a lower gear. I would love to stay 5 lug, but the wheels were too good of a deal to pass up. We have a 67-72 junk yard behind our shop, so having tons of parts laying around helps, just didnt have any 6 lug rotors. I have 6 lug front drum brakes, but cmon!!

Thanks for all your advice and fast reply's, im ordering ece rotors as we speak!! thanks again!!

[70rs/ss]

Cool I wasn't sure if you were doing a complete rear swap or just the axles (pretty common way to go from a 6-lug to 5 or back in your case). With the prices coming down on the 6-lug swap rotors, just buy a spare for an "incase of emergency" swap?!

Good Luck, and BTW we like picts, so when you get it together with the wheels, post em up!

[haeusser]

[Riveted1]

Those are nice lookin... are you sure they will fit over the front hub? Might wanna check that b4 u switch to the 6 lugs.