60-62 CPP Disc Brake Bracket kit??? uses stock drum spindle?

[Chuck78]

I am up in the air over whether or not to ditch the torsion bar crossmember when upgrading to discs, and I even have 73-91 Suburban crossmember sitting in the garage w/ the HD 1-1/4" brakes! I have little time, and saw that CPP makes a 60-62 disc brake bracket kit that uses 69-74 Chevelle 5 on 4-3/4 rotors and 69-72 Camaro Calipers. It comes with inner wheel bearings and seals, and fasteners.

http://www.classicperform.com/Store/.../6370DBK-5.htm

anyone ever use this? I just realized that even though the HD 1-1/4" brakes use the same A5 inner wheel bearing as the 62 spindle, the Caprice uses an 11.05" rotor, and the HD truck brakes are 11.86" rotors... I guess that shoots my hopes of a bolt on bracket for a 5 on 5" rotor! all the 5 on 5 rotors will be 12", as the B-body (Caprice, etc) station wagons had the bigger truck size 5 on 5 rotors, but they were also a 12" (popular Camaro spindle upgrade with special 4 on 4-3/4 rotors).

I am still wondering what the heck I will do. I was looking at a set of $219 CPP spindles that will allow me to bolt the 89 Suburban HD brakes onto the torsion bar front end. The stock front end on my truck does not need rebuilt, but the ball joints sure are pricey if I do need them!!!! Ouch! The 89 crossmember is going to be a lot of work to swap out, but then again, a spindle swap is also a good bit of work.

Any opinions on the easiest way to go, or a source for 5 on 5 11" rotors? Or feedback against using 11" rotors on a 4000 lb truck that may occasionally haul stuff, vs the 12" HD rotors?

[soba_03]

Chuck,

I believe that the brackets that your looking at will actualy widen your front end, I don't recall if it's 1.5" per side or total. Only reason I mention it is because it may be a problem with wheel and tire fitment depending on what you want to run.

Additionally, I believe that the crossmember that you have should bolt in there with limited hole having to be drilled. I converted my 61 burb to Disc's But I kept stock torsion suspension and changed out spindles to disc brake spindles. Also there isn't a great deal you can do to your front end with a torsion bar set up. If you ever plan on lowering you may want to consider the crossmember swap.

It all depends on what your trying to accomplish. If the stock height and wheel and tire fitment is not an issue then stick with torsion set up and caliper brackets. If this is going to be something that your going to want to drop eventually to get a better stance and plan on some rims then it may be worth the time to swap out the crossmember.

Just my .02 Good luck

[Chuck78]

Hey Soba, is your booster a 7" or 8" booster? Don' t know if you saw my other thread about avoiding spending $500 on that booster/master/clutch master setup. I think I have it down to minor fab work and $170-$230 in parts (plus prop. valve) to do basically the same thing.


As far as my setup, I think I will rule out the brackets then. Must have to do with how the stock spindles would position a set of rotors, as far as the added track width. It would be great if you could get 12" H.D. 1-1/4" factory discs with a bolt on bracket!

I plan to use the truck for some hauling, so I don't really want to lower it too low, but it does sit a bit high right now! How far can you really drop the torsion bars down? It'd probably be sufficient for me.
Parts interchange, lack of available replacement torsion bars, and cost were the factors that led me to buy a $100 pick n pull 89 Suburban crossmember. But now I'm having second thoughts... The 73-87/91 ball joints cost $10 each, and the 62 ball joints were $125 lower and $60 upper the one place I checked, and I think that was EACH!!!!!
The adjustability of the torsion bars ride height and the fact that I think they have solid a-arm bushings, those two factors are a big plus, but the cost of repair parts is a huge downer. I could rebuild the whole front end and buy poly-a-arm bushings for the 73-87/91 front end for a little more than just the spindles on the torsion bar front end.

I have totally ruled out the 11" setup with the bolt on brackets. bad idea for a truck used as a truck.

what do you guys think?

[soba_03]

I believe that it's 8" double diaphram.

As for the Torsion bars you can get them lower, it will never sit like it's bagged, but it will get down. You are correct that the Ball joints are Much more expensive. I guess that you spend money either way you go. I actually prefered to keep mine as close to stock as I could for now anyways. If you go with what most will say is that the swap over is the best way to go. eventually parts probally won't be available for ever for the old front end. It's a matter of choice at this point and if time isn't a factor then swap would most likely make the most sence.

[slepysal]

Yes the ball joints are more expensive ( upper 60.00 ea, the lower 100.00 ea more or less) I was able to get a pair of lowers for 50.00 a pair new ( e l bay).
Now as far as using the brackets, I , and this is ME , dont like the idea of using "car" rotors on our big ol' trucks. You can get the drop spindles from lots of sources and buy the rotors, calipers, bearings, hoses, etc from your local parts house. If you wanted to stay with 6 lugs up front I was told that 1988 3/4 2wd 7200 gvw chevy truck rotors ( yes these are 6 lug ) will fit.
I did a search and they use the same inner and outter bearings as the 72' 5 lug rotors but the seals are differnt

[Chuck78]

I'm still up in the air as to what to do! I like the torsion bars and the adjustability, and the solid a-arm bushings, but the price of rebuilt parts is insane. The 60-66 will most likely always be a more collectible vehicle than a 73-87, so I would think that 40 years from now, the 73-87 stuff might get a little sparse, but who knows. I'm sure there are a ton of other vehicles (vans and possibly big pass. cars) that may even use the same ball joints as the 73+ trucks. Might make the parts stick around for a while longer. I should definitely save the torsion bar setup just in case!

Lastly, no replacement torsion bars are even available at present, other than having some custom made, so that is a big factor. I have never heard of anyone breaking one, but I have heard of a guy breaking a rear sway bar, which is about the same thing as a torsion bar.

It seems that if one were to take a truck rotor and mount it on the drum spindles, it shouldn't be too much different to make a caliper bracket for the 12" brakes, would it? I don't think anyone makes one for the newer 73+ 1/2 ton truck rotors though, unfortunately. Anyone know? This would be an option I'd consider if that were the case. Less time involved.

[Captainfab]

Originally Posted by slepysal

If you wanted to stay with 6 lugs up front I was told that 1988 3/4 2wd 7200 gvw chevy truck rotors ( yes these are 6 lug ) will fit.
I did a search and they use the same inner and outter bearings as the 72' 5 lug rotors but the seals are differnt

You have to use the '88-'98 spindles with those rotors, and '63-'72 C20 LCA's. The '73-'87 C20 LCA's will work, but the bumpstops would need to be modified. But I don't believe these parts will work with the '60-'62 front suspension. You would need to switch to the '63 and up front suspension.

There is a thread on this conversion in the FAQ Truck Tech section......I believe it's on page 4.

[slepysal]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

You have to use the '88-'98 spindles with those rotors, and '63-'72 C20 LCA's. The '73-'87 C20 LCA's will work, but the bumpstops would need to be modified. But I don't believe these parts will work with the '60-'62 front suspension. You would need to switch to the '63 and up front suspension.

There is a thread on this conversion in the FAQ Truck Tech section......I believe it's on page 4.

Good to know . Yes the LCA are diffrent, and will NOT work with the 60-62s I have the drop spindles for the 72 rotors, and I bought the 6 lug rotors as part of the kit. I will probably go with the stock 5 lug rotor later.
I was told the '88 rotors would work ( same inner and outer bearings),maybe I can order one from work and compare it to the '72?

[joe231]

bearings may be the same but the offset of the rotors are different...

[slepysal]

ok cool