C4 Dropmember drawbacks!!!

[love my 72]

Did i get your attention?


Let me start off by saying that there are no drawbacks to the dropmemeber C4


I recently plunged in to the C4 dropmemebr crew and placed my order. And let me say that if product quality is a good as Nates' customer service skills then this is the best thing since sliced bred!

I found a great deal on the corvette arm, spindle, rotor and caliper assemblies. I plan on installing this on my 72 C10 and use a coil over spring shocks.

In doing so my front bolt patter will be defaulted to 5X4.75 which is not that big of a deal except i would like to run a 5X5 wheel up front with out needing an adapter/spacer!

I know, I know! I have a tendency to make things difficult for myself, i can't help just leaving things alone

reason is my tahoe, impala, and blazer's all have the 5x5 bolt pattern and i would love to keep the 72 that way as well because just like my woman needs different shoes and bags for different occasions i would like to be able to swap wheels in my cars as well

i guess i can sum it all up in the following sentence! Has anyone changed the bolt pattern on the C4 hub? which by the way i was to that it is called "unit bearing"

your input! criticism! advice and general experience is very welcomed!

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by love my 72

Did i get your attention?


Let me start off by saying that there are no drawbacks to the dropmemeber C4


I recently plunged in to the C4 dropmemebr crew and placed my order. And let me say that if product quality is a good as Nates' customer service skills then this is the best thing since sliced bred!

I found a great deal on the corvette arm, spindle, rotor and caliper assemblies. I plan on installing this on my 72 C10 and use a coil over spring shocks.

In doing so my front bolt patter will be defaulted to 5X4.75 which is not that big of a deal except i would like to run a 5X5 wheel up front with out needing an adapter/spacer!

I know, I know! I have a tendency to make things difficult for myself, i can't help just leaving things alone

reason is my tahoe, impala, and blazer's all have the 5x5 bolt pattern and i would love to keep the 72 that way as well because just like my woman needs different shoes and bags for different occasions i would like to be able to swap wheels in my cars as well

i guess i can sum it all up in the following sentence! Has anyone changed the bolt pattern on the C4 hub? which by the way i was to that it is called "unit bearing"

your input! criticism! advice and general experience is very welcomed!

Will all of the potential 'swap' wheels be big (17"+) diameter? That's what it will take to fit over the bigger brakes.

[love my 72]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

Will all of the potential 'swap' wheels be big (17"+) diameter? That's what it will take to fit over the bigger brakes.

That's a very good point you bring up, i had not thought about that. I haven't taken the time to look up or measure the diameter of the C4 brake rotors.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by love my 72

That's a very good point you bring up, i had not thought about that. I haven't taken the time to look up or measure the diameter of the C4 brake rotors.

They came both 12" & 13" depending on how the car was optioned.

[love my 72]

Right on SCOTI!

So here is what i was thinking! (every one, please one opinion at a time)

I was told by a corvette specialist in so cal. that this unit bearing was "un serviceable" since the gear in the back is pressed in. I think the guy just wanted to get me off the phone!

but what if i pulled off the gear, maybe there is some other retainer that is also pressed in that holds it all together. once the unit bearing is all taken apart have a rear axle shaft with the 5X5 bolt pattern cut and milled to the specs of the corvette unit and press everything back together.

this would then make the truck have the C4 suspension and have a 5x5 bolt pattern on all four wheels. the rotors would also have to be drilled to acomodate the new lug pattern but the rotors a bit more forgiving.

a member her re-driled some rotors by hand using a paper template he printed off his computer, granted the guy is a auto cad wiz!

here are some pictures of the parts that I'm talking about modifying.... again do you guys think this is worth it? or am i complicating things for my self?

I almost wana rip this thing apart to see how its all put together but if i mess it up i don't have a replacement...... Yet!

[love my 72]

hummm.... I thought there would be allot interested in the idea of C4 front suspension with a 5 on 5 bolt pattern.

[SCOTI]

I'm fine w/using the 5x4.75 pattern myself.

[love my 72]

I also thought about having the flanges redrilled but seams like there is'nt enough material there to in crease the bolt pattern by that 1/8th that is needed

[suville]

My take on it FWIW, if it was assembled it can be disassembled. It could well be the unit is not serviceable from the corvette repair stand point so that would mean you need to replace the complete unit, look at it this way if you can get a replacement I would disassemble it and see what makes it tick could be you would discover a market for re-furbished units depending on the level of involvement necessary worst senario its junk.. Remember its just nuts and bolts sort of a thing. Good luck

[love my 72]

Thanks suville,

Im serching for another C4 hub to take apart, i think one of those jaw gear puller tools will do the trick. I will post pics of this when i do it but i have to admit with about 1.5 weeks till the expected delivery of my DM its not on high priority.

[Red68ShortFleetside]

I am also interested in the C4 hubs.
I have a cross member from Flat Engineering and a complete front suspension from a 91 Vette, that I want to put on my 68. The only thing holding me back, is my desire to keep my 6 bolt center-line wheels.
Have you had a chance to take your hub apart yet?

Red68ShortFleetside

[love my 72]

I wish i can say that i did! But fact of the matter is that haven't had a chance to look for a "spare" hub to mess around with. I feeling very confident my idea can be made to work, and i don't see how you couldn't do it with a 6 lug axle shaft. If you decide to jump in to it keep us posted.

and you can always send me your hub i can play arround with it for you?

[Rooster's 67]

you will probably need a press to separate the hub from the bearings, a three jaw puller will generally be insufficient. I am sure you could come up with replacement bearings if necessary from a bearing supplier. A machine shop could turn a new hub with a 5x5 pattern using the existing hub for dimensions. then press it all back together with aforementioned press. the "gear" is just a tone wheel for ABS/traction control systems and most likely plays absolutely no role in retention of the hub.

[Wild83C10]

From the research I've done they can't be taken apart and put back together.

hub info

[love my 72]

Originally Posted by Wild83C10

From the research I've done they can't be taken apart and put back together.

hub info

well it looks like i just spent $20.00 bucks for nothing! I should have came back to this thread before jumping on flee bay!

I at least would have thought twice about it before pulling the trigger if i had read post #8 in the above link. But I'm not one to give up easily. I think i will try the following:


1) Inquire about having the hub re drilled for the 5X5 bolt pattern. (i feel like there isn't enough material to do so)

2) Cut and machine down a trucks axle shaft to the specs of the of the "axle shaft" in the corvette's bearing carrier.

Any one wanna donate an axle shaft to the cause?